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October 8, 2008 |
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01. Exospacial Psionic Aura
02. Estrogen/Pathogen Exchange Program
03. Sensory Amusia
04. Alcholocaust
05. You Will Be Reincarnated As An Imperial Attack Spaceturtle
06. Alcoholacaust (Live)
07. You Will Be Reincarnated As An Imperial Attack Spaceturtle (Live)
08. Exospacial Psionic Aura (Live)
09. Sensory Amusia (Live)
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Guy Kozowyk's Black Market Activities label seems to be cornering the market on the more quirky metallic acts out there. More puzzling than the Riddler on hallucinogens, BEHOLD...THE ARCTOPUS is an obscenely talented 3-piece Tech monstrosity. To think that only eight limbs are at work here is nothing short of astounding.
There are no vocals, similar to Canadian up-and-comers ELECTRO QUARTERSTAFF, who also share ARCTOPUS’ flair for Sci-Fi themed dementia. And it's just as well. When you take music this sprawling and intricate and play it as though you were in a small wooden crate that had just been thrown down the elevator shaft of a 75 story building, vocals would probably only diminish the chaos. Tracks like "Sensory Amusia" and "You Will Be Re-Incarnated As An Imperial Attack Spaceturtle" already seem to have an innate sense of anger and emotion that proves that the usual yelpy DEP vocals found in bands of this nature would be completely egregious.
BEHOLD...THE ARCOTPUS succeeds in the department where many bands that share this style fail... the song-writing one. The difference between being a Tech band and a Prog band is in the songwriting, which is to say one can't and the other can. Many bands are more preoccupied with getting to the next wacky thing, not giving any thought to the idea of transition or mood. BEHOLD...THE ARCTOPUS is able to create memorable songs, which only heightens their abilities. The three live tracks at the end of the album also display the band as a force in the live-area, another place where their ilk have faltered.
If you're looking for absurdist Tech Metal that's devoid of the trappings of the genre, than you'll in no doubt enjoy "Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning".
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