Behold...The Actopus - Skullgrid

Band: Behold The Arctopus
Album: Skullgrid
Genre: progressive metal
Label: Metal Blade

Tracks:
1. Skullgrid
2. Canada
3. Of Cursed Womb
4. You Are Number Six
5. Some Mist
6. Scepters
7. Transient Exuberance

Today's metal world plays more like a revolving door. Bands enter, see a bit of the light of fame, and burn out before we even learn the names of the members. It seems like the rise of the digital age has led to more bands making more music, but at the same time, if it's just more of the same thing, why should we care? Enter Behold...The Arctopus, a three piece metal machine that I best can describe as Explosions in The Sky after being pumped full of metal and angst. There are no vocals, no glam, no eyeliner, just straight metal with a shot of jazz influence. The result of all this is the seven track opus, "Skullgrid."

When first listening to Behold...The Arctopus, I'll admit I couldn't even comprehend what I was hearing. The first track I ever listened to was, "You Are the Number Six," which starts out with random single tones played by the various instruments for about a minute until the full band comes in. not exactly the best way to start out, but after receiving, "Skullgrid," it all started to make sense. The point of the band, is about as rock and roll as you can be. They just play music, for the love of playing music, without any care for fame or fans, but just to rock out as friends. The entire album [which only has seven tracks, but has a running time of over 30min.] plays like a concerto in honor of metal. It's fast, spastic, but deeply technical. The guitars, but electric and warr, make great use of finger picking and riffing while the drums don't keep a tempo, as much as set the over mood for what your experiencing. There are no breakdowns per say, because by the time you realize you should be head banging, the band has decided to move on to a completely different sound [all in the course of a single song]. It's really hard to describe a single track, or to highlight certain moments because the album is meant to be taken at once, the whole thing, and that's the best way it can be done.

The production on, "Skullgrid," is phenomenal, it gives you a very full sound with deep bass lines that you feel in your bones. This, coupled with the sheer talent of the group, make this debut one to give a few spins if not make a permanent member of your record collection. However, keep this in mind: This is something quite unique, not just to metal, but in general. You cannot grasp it the first time through and because of that, I fear the album just doesn't do it completely for me. It's one thing to make music because you love music, but when you're signed and your job is to move units while maintaining your love for music, I think there should be something to pull the listener in form the beginning. Though, even with this restraint, once one does give the album a real chance, your sure to find a gem in the rough and you'll find yourself wondering, as I already do, where Behold...The Arctopus will take us next.

GRADE: 7/10