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Behold... the Arctopus - Skullgrid  Hot PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 03 December 2007
Editor's rating
9.5
out of 10
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Reviewed by:
Chad Coup
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Sunday, 09 December 2007
Average user rating: 9.1 
2 User reviews
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Music Information
Track Listing:
01. Skullgrid
02. Canada
03. Of Cursed Womb
04. You Are Number Six
05. Some Mist
06. Scepters
07. Transient Exuberance

Artist: Behold... the Arctopus
Title: Skullgrid
Genre: Progressive Metal • Instrumental
Release Date: 16 October 2007
Record Label: Metal Blade Records • Black Market Activities
Format: Full-length
Country: United States of America
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Behold... the Arctopus - Skullgrid

Review co-written by Keith Carlson.


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Editor review
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Overall rating (weighted)
9.5
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
9.0
Experimentation
9.0
Production
10.0
Value
10.0
People say that technical music is soulless showing off. What may come across as a mess to unfamiliar listeners is actually a high level of complex composition. Behold's relentless take on music is that of pure structure. I could write a book on the dynamic of Skullgrid's extreme amount of layers, but to put lightly, it's the musical equivalent of an M.C. Escher drawing.

Not only does Warr guitarist Colin Marston push his technique and skill further than before, he flourishes in his own unique and original blend of instrumental beauty. Not to leave out guitarist Mike Lerner in the shadows. The guy holds his own. I've listened numerous times to his solo black metal project Direwolf while waiting for 'Skullgrid,' and you can hear how big of a role Mike plays in Behold... the Arctopus. Drummer Charlie Zeleny continues to rock out his drum kit. He continues to be one of metal's most precise drummers and playing this kind of music is proof of that.

'Skullgrid' starts off super punchy and in-your-face, more so than their last EP 'Nano Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning.' You can tell this time around Behold... the Arctopus has a lot power behind their groove and experimental sound. All around, this album feels punk to me, but with a ton of spice and insight at the same time. This album's brilliance conveys so many themes, messages and ideas without singing a single word. How punk. While Metal Blade keeps sticking to a mostly general metal roster, the few 'risky' ones they do have are really pushing the underground into really creative territory. There are a ton of clean bursts of Grindcore and Power Violence, only it's intricate and precise.

'Skullgrid' operates on a much cleaner level of production than the two previous albums. It's not as distorted and dense, but that just means that you can hear everything better. It sounds much more like a progressive jazz fusion act that an abusive tech metal band. Then again, perhaps the band wanted both entities to exist in their own means. 'Skullgrid' is so perfectly produced and mixed. You can hear every note right down to the fingers sliding down the strings. Drums are extremely clear with cymbals having a satisfying sizzle and bass drums at just the right resonance.

Colin said himself he takes inspiration from acclaimed experimental guitarist Mick Barr's Ocrilim project. Those familiar with both Marston and Barr will note the extreme black metal influence that the style has on both musicians. Barr comes in on the tail end of "You Are Number Six," an absolutely epic track that builds and builds until it's ready to explode. There are similarities between Lerner's guitar style and Barr's style, which is the reason that Barr couldn't be a more complimenting guest on a Behold album. Listen to Lerner's beginning of "Of Cursed Womb" and then skip to 7:10 on "You Are Number Six." The extremely fast arpeggio runs coupled with the repetition of those notes really bring these two virtuosos together. Before I read the liner notes, I had no idea that Barr was on this album. That's how well they fused together.

I feel this album's length is just about right. Seven songs of Behold... the Arctopus is a feat to any listener in itself. Solely Sludge or Doom bands bore me, and even the other spectrum of non-sludge bands occasionally dabble in it. This album's Doom parts couldn't be more effective and attention-holding. They're extremely powerful, epic, and loud. If you've seen Behold in action, then you'll know what I mean."

I am in awe of this band. Each member is their own composer and virtuoso within themselves. This applies outside of Behold with Colin's millions of side projects, all completely different and awesome. Not to mention his attentiveness to detail in all recordings coming out of his studio called Menegroth, The Thousand Caves. While Mike finished his own 7-year Direwolf project, Charlie is currently in the Blotted Science mix with legendary guitarist Ron Jarzombek. Astonishing!

Behold... the Arctopus is one of the most exciting bands ever to come out in metal. The band is unpretentious and really welcomes any fan support. They are musicians that take their art seriously and it shows in their playing style and meticulous attention to detail, right down to the album art. It is highly-recommended that new fans start at this record, as it most clearly represents this band's agenda and delivers a fascinating musical experience at the same time.
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Last updated: Wednesday, 12 December 2007


User reviews

Average user rating from: 2 user(s)

Overall rating (weighted)
9.1
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
7.5
Experimentation
10.0
Production
9.0
Value
9.0
 

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Justin Rahner
Monday, 12 May 2008

Written by Justin Rahner   -  View all my reviews  - Top 10 Reviewer

Overall rating (weighted)
9.3
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
8.0
Experimentation
10.0
Production
9.0
Value
9.0
In a world of music without meaning or direction, Behold...the Arctopus shines through the cess pool of nothingness with its instrumental storytelling and technical genious. Behold...the Arctopus (along with other great progressives such as Blotted Science) pave the way for a new found respect for the instrumental by reminding us what it means to have the instruments tell the story. No lyrics are needed here, only the imagination of the listener and the emotion of the band itself. Fully experimental, authenticly creative, brutaly insane, "Skullgrid" is a must have for the technical and progressive lovers. This is the future direction of progressive music.

Don't believe me? Go burn one, sit back, and experience the journey.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

George Bowles
Thursday, 17 January 2008

Written by George Bowles   -  View all my reviews  - Top 10 Reviewer

Overall rating (weighted)
9.0
Musicianship
10.0
Composition
7.0
Experimentation
10.0
Production
9.0
Value
9.0
Behold... the Arctopus is a music geek's ultimate fantasy. 'Skullgrid' pushed the extremes in musical focus and intensity. Few bands have performed music this complex and mind-blowing and gotten away with it. There are about a billion time changes in each and every song (except for the computer-like short opener, sounding something like a program preloading to melt your brain), they absolutely slay live, and they use a Warr guitar. Not to mention, the drummer has one of the coolest drum sounds I've ever heard. Song titles such as "Canada", "Scepters", and "Transient Exuberance" do little to prepare you for the sonic, mental onslaught. Sheer genius, and ahead of its time like an Ornette Coleman (or even Mick Barr) from a horrible cyborg and nanotech-infested, post-apocalyptic future.
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