Are you a fan of technical instrumental metal? Have you ever listened to a band like Gorguts or Coma Cluster Void and wished they sounded a lot weirder? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then Behold The Arctopus may be just the band for you. The NY band have been honing their sound for close to two decades, and their next release, Hapeleptic Overtrove, is their most ambitious to date. The trio have partnered with Willowtip records to unleash their very distintive 7th record to the world.
Behold The Arctopus have forgone hi-hats, crashes and ride cymbals for this release. They are, instead, utilizing material you might not expect like wooden planks and broken pipes! The role of percussion on Hapeleptic Overtrove more closely resembles that of another voice in the mix rather than just providing a beat. The press release for the new record states that the end product sounds closer to something like chamber music than rock music, and I'd have to say I definitely agree.
This is not music that you bang your head to necessarily, bit is really damn good. While the frantic passages seem disorganized at first, the way they've woven the pieces together is fantastic. When BTA decide to reward the listener with the tiniest bit of a resolve, it sounds like magic. Hapeleptic Overtrove is weird, influenced from jazz artists like Lannis Xenakis and Tony Oxley, and highly ambitious.
Can I give it out as a recommendation for my friends to listen to? Honestly - I dought many of them would have the patience. I, on the other hand, will be listening to this for months to come in an attempt to understand everything musically that they present. It presents a treasure trove of ideas that more extreme metal bands could learn from, and I hope they do.
I'm giving Hapeleptic Overtrove a 9/10
Hapeleptic Overtrove is set to release on June, 12th digitally and vinyl through Willowtip Records, and on CD through P2.