November Surprises

SteveK has a couple of surprises his own this week.

Behemoth: Eskaton

European Metal is a breed unto itself. The spectacle, the pretence, the intensity and the passion of Northern and Eastern European Metal acts is unsurpassed anywhere else. While American Metal bands seem to be glibber, taking themselves far less seriously, the European acts seem to follow the philosophy that the image and spectacle are as important as the music, itself.

Enter Polish Metal giants, Behemoth. They look like they’re from the Matrix; they sound like they’ve just busted out of Hell. This week I had the good fortune to listen to an advance copy of ‘Eskaton’, Behemoth’s forthcoming EP.

The most notable song on the disc is their cover of the Ramones’ classic “I’m Not Jesus”, just because of the unique, Speed / Death Metal spin they give the song. The Speed Punk genre’s influence on Behemoth is evident in this, and the other six tracks on the EP. However, their complex rhythms and occult themes owe more to classic Heavy Metal acts such as Black Sabbath or Iron Maiden.

Behemoth are one of the founders of the Polish Metal scene, and their style and lyrical content has landed them in hot water in their homeland. Polish authorities associated with the Committee for Defence Against Sects distributed a list of bands whose music should be banned for allegedly promoting murder and / or Satanism. Behemoth’s name appears on that list, and there continue to be rumours that the list will eventually be enforced by the Polish government. The religious imagery and references in the lyrics and visual content of ‘Eskaton’ is likely to further exacerbate things with the Polish authorities; make no mistake, however, ‘Ezkaton’ is as much substance as it is style.

This is a great disc: the Metal is energetic, the lyrics intense, and the whole package is delivered with power. Both the vocals and instrumentation are complex and technically flawless. Metalheads and hardcore Behemoth fans alike are sure to enjoy ‘Ezkaton’

Behemoth: Eskaton

Metal Blade

Steve’s Rating: 8/10

The Arkells: Jackson Square

The Canadian Music Revolution marches onwards. The last few years have seen acts like Simple Plan, Bedouin Soundclash, City and Colour, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, Sam Roberts, Nickleback, the Stills, the Hot Hot Heat, Billy Talent, Feist and several others, surge onto the world stage and take their place among the pantheon of music greats.

Another Canadian act is poised to join that legion: The Arkells, from Hamilton, Ontario. In the midst of a heavy touring schedule, the Arkells re-released their demo EP a few months ago, and have just now released their debut full-length album, ‘Jackson Square’. The music of this album is contemplative and upbeat, energetic and allegorical. Each of the 12 tracks tells a story, makes a statement, and instigates thought in the listener.

Standouts on the album include “Deadlines”, the opening track which is a scathing condemnation of the live-to-work mentality of the Upwardly Mobile, and “No Champagne Socialist” which quite openly criticizes the privileged class of young hipsters who identify with Leftists while profiting from their upper-middle-class upbringings.

All and all ‘Jackson Square’ is a brilliant, if understated album. The music and vocals of the Arkells don’t, on their own, have any immediate distinction. Lyrically and vocally they remind me of Death Cab For Cutie, with the contemplative nature of their exuberant and upbeat music. However, The Arkells are not by any stretch of the imagination a sound-alike band. Their subdued style does evoke the old expression of walking softly and carrying a big stick. The music is easy on the ears, but when you stop to actually listen to the lyrics it is their content that is most striking. The Arkells are surprisingly subtle, but they make a powerful statement with their music.

The Arkells: Jackson Square

Dine Alone Records

Steve’s Rating: 9/10

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