Behold … the Arctopus: Interstellar Overtrove

Yikes! I imagine that will be the reaction of most people after they have listened to Behold … the Arctopus’ latest release, Interstellar Overtrove, ranging from those who quite like it to those who hate it to those who don’t fully understand what they have heard. And those groups are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Count me in both the first and third camps.

The Queens-based band started out with a few EPs in the early to mid-2000s and then released their first full-length album, Skullgrid, in 2007. They claim four more since then, though I have a hard time calling 2016’s Cognitive Emancipation more than an EP, given that it clocks in at just 19 minutes. Interstellar Overtrove is heavy and dissonant instrumental prog, like the preceding releases. But it has near-melodic elements at points, especially on the second half of the album. There is really no group that I can compare Behold … the Arctopus’ music to overall. But on this album, one can hear bits that resemble King Crimson’s early 1980s work, though heavier and weirder.

My biggest complaint is the use of electronic drums, which are omnipresent. While they fit the music, the cumulative effect can be a bit tough to take. At 34:56, this is Behold … the Arctopus’ longest release. It took me on a journey, though I can’t say quite where. And while I wish it had been about five minutes shorter, I enjoyed the ride. One last thing: the album cover is another winner from the group. I’m giving the album 3.5 stars, but 4 would not be out of order either.

Track Listing
1. Hot for Emotions
2. Def Lepton
3. Insane in the 11th Membrane
4. Time-Denier
5. Speculated.Inflated.Transparent
6. Echoes of Deletion
7. SETI: The Search for Entertaining Terrestrial Incompetence

Added: January 8th 2024
Reviewer: Aaron Steelman
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 352
Language: english

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