Behold the Arctopus – Interstellar Overtrove

· by Laurent Bellemare

No distortion. No amplifier. No drums. No synthesizers. These are the symbols displayed by the New York instrumental trio on this album’s Bandcamp page, a credo that’s pretty much representative of Behold the Arctopus’ music. Clearly, this progressive metal UFO hasn’t run out of ways to surprise. Indeed, percussionist Jason Bauers and his cohorts have swapped drums for electronic kits, none of which seem to emulate acoustic instruments. Distorted guitars have been replaced by guitar synthesizers (not to be confused with keytar!) and a Warr guitar, a kind of chapman stick with a very wide range invented by co-founder Colin Marston. All this means that, while we recognize the language of technical metal, we don’t recognize its sounds. In fact, one wonders whether we’re dealing with an album of musique concrète rather than an unbridled form of progressive rock.

In terms of articulation, there is continuity with the band’s discography. The short pieces are densely packed, swollen with ultra-complex passages woven together in a confusing, angular fashion. Extreme tapping games compete for spectral space, and the transitions are never-ending. Yet none of this sounds disjointed. Behold the Arctopus pushes its cuisine so far that we can only applaud the refinement of a unique and fully assumed sound. The experience is psychedelic in itself, contributing to the cosmic aura that emanates from the rather ironic cover and titles. A must-have for all fans of innovative music!

Latest 360 Content

Orford 2025 | Collectif9: folk that innovates and grooves

Orford 2025 | Collectif9: folk that innovates and grooves

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | The next global star of Tuareg blues is born, and it is in Montreal

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | The next global star of Tuareg blues is born, and it is in Montreal

Ruby Creek – Forget Me Not

Ruby Creek – Forget Me Not

Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out

Wet Leg – moisturizer

Wet Leg – moisturizer

Sister Ray – Believer

Sister Ray – Believer

Festival de Lanaudière | Franco Fagioli and the voice of bel canto

Festival de Lanaudière | Franco Fagioli and the voice of bel canto

Nuits d’Afrique | Manamba Kanté, An Undeniable Diva

Nuits d’Afrique | Manamba Kanté, An Undeniable Diva

Nuits d’Afrique | El Gato Negro, A Feline Like No Other

Nuits d’Afrique | El Gato Negro, A Feline Like No Other

Nights of Africa 2025 | A gnawa fusion reactor named Saïd Mesnaoui

Nights of Africa 2025 | A gnawa fusion reactor named Saïd Mesnaoui

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | Sousou and Maher Cissoko: benevolence and complicity

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | Sousou and Maher Cissoko: benevolence and complicity

Nuits d’Afrique | Las Karamba And Their Militant Salsa

Nuits d’Afrique | Las Karamba And Their Militant Salsa

Festival de Lanaudière | A Successful Choral Evening for Akamus

Festival de Lanaudière | A Successful Choral Evening for Akamus

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | Training the Next Generation of Lyric Artists, From Voice to Stage Direction

Festival d’art vocal de Montréal | Training the Next Generation of Lyric Artists, From Voice to Stage Direction

Nuits d’Afrique | Tyrane Mondeny: The Rising Star Has Reached Her Destination

Nuits d’Afrique | Tyrane Mondeny: The Rising Star Has Reached Her Destination

Nuits d’Afrique | El Gato Negro, The Sound of Subtropical Pop

Nuits d’Afrique | El Gato Negro, The Sound of Subtropical Pop

Nuits d’Afrique | Glowzi, in Soundsystem Mode

Nuits d’Afrique | Glowzi, in Soundsystem Mode

Nuits d’Afrique | Mateus Vidal & Axé Experience, “Uma Festa” in The Rain

Nuits d’Afrique | Mateus Vidal & Axé Experience, “Uma Festa” in The Rain

Naomi – A Dark Corner to Dance In

Naomi – A Dark Corner to Dance In

Nuits d’Afrique | Les mamans du Congo x Rrobin: A Successful Bet!

Nuits d’Afrique | Les mamans du Congo x Rrobin: A Successful Bet!

Nuits d’Afrique | Baz Konpa Honors konpa

Nuits d’Afrique | Baz Konpa Honors konpa

Nuits d’Afrique: Bab L’ Bluz Summons The Desert

Nuits d’Afrique: Bab L’ Bluz Summons The Desert

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | Saïd Mesnaoui: Gnawa Fusion at the Heart of a Radiant Artist

Nuits d’Afrique 2025 | Saïd Mesnaoui: Gnawa Fusion at the Heart of a Radiant Artist

Festival de Lanaudière | Paulus & Elias: Mendelssohn’s oratorios presented by Akamus

Festival de Lanaudière | Paulus & Elias: Mendelssohn’s oratorios presented by Akamus

Subscribe to our newsletter