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September 7, 2008 |
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01. Megaptera In The Delta
02. Neonate
03. Versus The Siren
04. Ampullae Of Lorenzini
05. Summit
06. Eating Machine
07. Revolution In The Water
08. Metridium Field
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The End Records is chocking up quite an array bizarre bands, as if they're preparing a traveling freak show for a post-apocalyptic landscape. Joining the One-Of-Us ranks (which includes such transgressive acts as UNEXPECT, STOLEN BABIES, and the absolutely enthralling SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM) is Texas' GIANT SQUID, ready to impress with their debut album "Metridium Fields".
Blending the Hammers-Into-The-Earth heaviness of "Enemy Of The Sun"-era NEUROSIS with haunting Middle-Eastern melodies and a surreal cryptozoologic-atmosphere, GIANT SQUID play as if they wish to conjure an army of Cthulus from the blackest ocean depths. The second track "Neonate" is one of the strongest songs released all year from a debuting band, a trance-inducing mix of "Red Sea" era ISIS and the more cryptic moments of SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Now some of you might raise your skull-covered True Metal flag when you see that name, but be assured, GIANT SQUID have none of the annoying baggage that hinders much of Serj Tankien and Co.'s catalog. But I digress.
There are some truly beautiful moments on "Metridium Fields". The opening of "Versus The Siren", with its gentle-yet-ominous keyboards and smooth female vocals, has all the meditative serenity of floating on top of a body of water at two in the morning, before you get attacked by the heavy tentacles of assorted sea creatures, drawn kicking and screaming to a watery grave. The song then closes with mournful horns, signaling an end to the struggle.
As you can see by the above paragraph, GIANT SQUID's music has an incredible cinematic quality that many bands of this ilk attempt, but never truly capture. The songs all reference each other in a subtle, yet somehow dramatic fashion, as does the cover art, which makes it a true "concept" album. That can usually paint a band into a corner (and it sort-of-does with a song title like "Revolution In The Water". A still amazing track, by the way, forcing them to repeat similar images and metaphors, but it is only a minor (and I do mean minor) set back in GIANT SQUID's case.
Also to be noted is the tremendous (in every sense of the word) production of job of Billy Anderson, known best for his work with HIGH ON FIRE, MR. BUNGLE, and not surprisingly NEUROSIS. Anderson has a great ear for what makes a heavy band unique, and he brings it out ten-fold, as best illustrated on epic songs like "Ampulae Of Lorenzinil", "Summit"... hell the whole damn thing. So while many are still fawning over the bland arena-rock that is MASTODON, those of you disappointed with that band's posturing can come swim with the squids.
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