Behold the Arctopus returns with new album and new lineup
Sep 6, 2012
BEHOLD THE ARCTOPUS return with new album and new lineup

Black Market Activities presents the long-awaited return of Behold the Arctopus, pioneers in the field of extreme, progressive music. Marking the start of a new era for the band, Behold the Arctopus’ second full-length, Horrorscension, is set for an October 23rd release.

In the five years since their last album, Skullgrid, much has transpired in the Behold the Arctopus camp. 12-string Warr guitarist Colin Marston expanded his musical outlets, founding avant-black metal band Krallice and joining progressive death metal legends Gorguts. In addition to his playing, Marston increased his output as a recording engineer, helping create albums for such artists as Kayo Dot, Orthrelm, Jarboe, and Altar of Plagues. Original drummer Charlie Zeleny departed, to be replaced by the prolific Weasel Walter, renowned for his long-running band The Flying Luttenbachers and his widespread collaborations in the free jazz, noise, and metal genres.

Horrorscension is the inaugural release of the new Behold the Arctopus lineup -- Marston, Walter, and unholy shredder Mike Lerner on guitar. (In the spirit of defining Horrorscension as the beginning of a new era for the band, the ellipsis [“...”] has been officially removed from the band name.)

In crafting Horrorscension, Behold the Arctopus employed their signature method of composing the music in written form before ever playing it. Marston elaborates: “Since our music is written down and then learned, like classical music, we're never actually building songs based on our playing ability. It’s very different from jamming out a bunch of riffs.”

Horrorscension showcases Behold the Arctopus’ jaw-dropping, complex music, delivered with a raw, visceral attack -- something closer to punk than to the antiseptic sound of music school perfectionism that is all too common amongst young technical bands. Widely regarded as a band of virtuosos, Marston, Walter, and Lerner are quick to separate themselves from the showboaters. Says Marston: “I accept that the music is not for a general audience and that musicians are more likely to relate to it due to the density, but I see a huge difference between this band and say, Yngwie Malmsteen or Dream Theater or anyone who really wants you to notice how proficient they are. I would love it if, when people hear Horrorscension, they think ‘Whoa, what the hell is going on?’ rather than ‘Wow, they can play their instruments well.’ I want the focus to be on the content, not the performance.”

Horrorscension was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Marston at his The Thousand Caves studio in Queens, NY. The cover art is once again by longtime Behold the Arctopus collaborator Terry Grow.

Check out “Disintegore”, the opening track off Horrorscension, on Behold the Arctopus’s official online merch store, along with the album pre-order:

http://www.indiemerch.com/beholdthearctopus

facebook.com/beholdthearctopus

beholdthearctopus.bandcamp.com
curranreynolds.com

So it sounds a bit riffier than Skullgrid

at least they dropped the stupid ellipsis from the band name, right?

just a little weird since he's an academic music nerd first and a metal head second.

People hate Behold the Arctopus?

People hate Behold the Arctopus?

They did an infamous guitar mag video showcase a few years ago. Most of the hate for them stems from that.

Like Woolie_Wool said, this band pretty much sums up everything wrong with tech death today.

Considering that they're the epitome of everything that a lot of people dislike about technical death metal, of course they're widely disliked. I personally can't stand 30 seconds of them, or Brain Drill, or Necrophagist, or any of that ilk.

People hate Behold the Arctopus?

Oh by the way to everyone calling them tech death.... No. You have to at least have some vocals to even be considered. It's technical instrumentals it's more in the line of old Hella, or Orthrelm.

I heard the album and I definitely like it. Although I'm a fan of Behold the Arctopus so take that as you will.

Yeah, but it's kind of obvious that BTA aren't a death metal band.

Indecency probably considers all of deathcore to be death metal too, based on his past incarnation.

Yes. In fact, Behold the Arctopus are the distilled essence of musical wank juices. They sound like Crazybus with guitars.

(Warning: Crazybus' music may cause physical pain and seizures upon listening.)

They could be, but I've never listened to them and they're not a part of my argument

They could be, but I've never listened to them and they're not a part of my argument.

I don't mind wank, you just have to appreciate it as a technical showcase, not great songwriting.

Considering that they're the epitome of everything that a lot of people dislike about technical death metal, of course they're widely disliked. I personally can't stand 30 seconds of them, or Brain Drill, or Necrophagist, or any of that ilk.

Yea how can you even make an argument about some band's music esp if you have never listened to them. You come across sounding like an idiot and tony brings up a good point on now why we should just avoid your comments all together.

Also all clean singing death metal= not death metal. But who knows you probably haven't listened to any of those bands you are trying use as a point in your 'argument'

=what the hell is the point of spewing your opinion out of your ass when its not even related to the topic?=

exclusive live-in-studio footage of behold the arctopus playing two songs off our upcoming album plus a terrible version of some new material:

oh great... the spinal tap of Tech death are back. These guys are ridiculous (in a funny ha-ha way)