Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning (CD - 2006)

This limited-edition release, with the unlikely title of NANO-NUCLEONIC CYBORG SUMMONING, is what one might call "chamber metal." Behold...the Arctopus specialize in a brand of highly technical instrumental metal that draws from avant-garde classical music and jazz, as well as the more obvious genre influences of thrash and speed metal. Furiously torqued guitar passages push the idea of progressive metal to the outer limits, while ambient interludes vary the tonal palette. This album comes highly recommended for progressive metal fans, and should prove an intriguing surprise to those interested in experimental music in general.

Yep. Prog-tech-metal. For the uninitiated, Behold...The Arctopus are all three. Sure, their pedigree is heavy metal, but the other two elements figure just as heavily when all is said and done. Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning is actually a reissue of the band's first two EPs plus "a full live set" (which is difficult to believe unless they always play for only 24 minutes live). In any case, this Brooklyn, NY power trio features guitarist Mike Lerner, drummer Charlie Zeleny, and Colin Marston on Warr guitar. This is instrumental, serious technique metal. Necrophagist comes to mind, so does Psyopus, but then so do King Crimson, Steve Vai's work with Frank Zappa, and Dysrhythmia (of which Marston is also a member). The music is extremely intense, full-throttle with lots of stops, starts, key and tempo changes. There are wildly shredding guitars playing all manner of knotty runs that are just insanely intricate, as Zeleny's drumming has to be heard to even be believed. Think some of the crazy stuff that goes on in Electric Masada or Naked City -- from thrash to scary, intricate jazz-rock -- and you might get an idea. This is an exciting band playing a form of music that Meshuggah might embrace, though for the money these guys are more interesting for being an instrumental act and they need not employ thrash metal riffs for respectability. Anyone interested in the wide variety of music under the guise of heavy metal in the 21st century should give these young cats a very serious listen. It'll be interesting to hear their real debut studio offering next year. ~ Thom Jurek minimize