San
Diego's TARANTULA HAWK have been at it for since 1998 and have gained a
great deal of respect as one of the front runners of the "new prog era",
along with the likes of YETI, UPISLON ACRUX, and DYSRHYTHMIA. This debut
release contains 6 songs morphed into one continuous track of heavy instrumental
organ and bass driven "psychedelic-death-prog", laced with samples of vehement
insects and wretched machines. Musically reminiscent of GOBLIN, old PINK
FLOYD, MAN IS THE BASTARD, and KING CRIMSON executed by former members of
THE LOCUST, STRUGGLE, and "THE TITO O'TITO BAND". |
Reviews:
"San
Diego's Tarantula Hawk create a heavy, epic rock soundscape, a bit like
a metal version of Godspeed You Black Emperor, with a healthy dose of
Hawkwind. The band is a four piece: with not one, but two bassists, a
drummer, and a guitarist/keyboardist, and a couple of samplers amongst
them. This, their debut recording, consists of one 40-or-so minute long
track, all instrumental, that combines metallic math-rock (including the
occasional blast-beat) with bombastic prog-rock keyboard sounds of the
sort unheard since the early '70s! The keyboards make TH remind me (and
perhaps only me) of a malevolent version of the organ-led seventies Italian
prog cult-band Le Orme, but mixed with the majestic bass-heavy attack
of Japanese prog-punk technicians the Ruins. All these sounds are then
eventually subsumed into an experiment in drone science. Ominous stuff
indeed! It's like the soundtrack to the military-occupation of a haunted
house: martial drum beats, grandiose synth themes, eerie abstract electronics.
For fans of Thrones, Neurosis, Magma, The Champs, Old Man Gloom, etc.
No wonder they've toured with both California grindcore heroes Dystopia
and Texas neo-psych spacerock act Yeti, drawing as they do from both genres.
Highly recommended! "
- Aquarius Records |