Take two complex bands, put a song from each on a single release, and what do you get? Abstract drips emerging from Behold…The Arctopus’ group, and another musical flop labeled with Orthrelm’s typical woes…ah yes, byzantine labyrinths with intelligent atmospheres, am I right? Unfortunately, this unacceptable split stamped by both parties acts rather doleful as our duo of rabid musicians endlessly cycle between guitar swishes or splashing transfers; smart-people music now has its ironic phase, if you will. I enjoy taking a nice dive into the technical/progressive metal spring, but this split isn’t some refreshing dip. More like a magma bath, respectively.
Thankfully, Behold…The Arctopus gets things moving with “Paincave,” a signature item that morphs beyond matter or space. However, most passages used for entwinement are vague at best, plus their instrumental attributes seem dull by taking glimpses at shreds, warr-guitar licks, or percussion slams. Nevertheless, the cut ends at five minutes, looking like a b-side or recycling-bin song never meant for use. It seems like they lost the character behind the great EP they summoned prior, only to have meandering and generic additions unlike better tunes they’ve elegantly performed. Behold…The Arctopus is an awesome band, yet “Paincave” isn’t the kind of material worthy of release. Next please!
The second and final song is contributed by the eyebrow-raising Orthrelm: a band so cacophonic, it cannot be qualified as music. The number is titled “Pithot 1,” which already hints purposeless technicality used for inducing seizures. How to describe it? Start your car, scream, scratch a chalkboard, and ask a caffeinated child to play slap-bass, but on an electric guitar. Congratulations! You have just written “Pithot 1” in its entirety! Seriously though, I’ve never heard something so bombastic (in a bad way) or chaotic in my life, and no positive observation can be made from ejaculating crap without any foundation. Behold…The Arctopus has minimal stability, while these clowns have not a drop of it; that’s completely why they ruined a split already on dangerous territory.
I don’t know what either group had in mind with this unconventional split, but there is at least one thing with a spine: the overall inconsistency of both squads.
“Paincave” is horribly pretentious, while Orthrelm’s sole contribution allows buyers a chance to see what should not be of technical metal; truly, no individual can pinpoint goodness from both bands, so why bother doing a split if that signature of redundancy is showcased? Another eternal question, most likely lacking evidence for any justified answer. Behold…The Arctopus has their minor slump, and Orthrelm just continues being Orthrelm in terms of lackluster quality. This is certainly forgettable, on both sides of the picture.
