The Arachnids - The Vulture (11/07/2012)
The Brisbane based four piece alternative rock funk groovers The Arachnids are self professed, non bullshit, all around fun guys, so it’s intriguing that their debut EP ‘The Vulture’ shows a different side of themselves, packed with serious undertones and strong imagery.
Opening track ‘No More Reason’ has all the qualities of a Living End track, a slab of edgy rock bouncing along to a swinging beat. The best part of the tune kicks into some really sweet guitar licks, bundled with psychedelic synth effects, about two thirds of the way through. The upbeat music conveys a message about living life, instead of sitting on the fence or fantasising about what could be.
‘Radio Storm’ starts with the sound of a TV channel switching through static before climbing into funky distortion, that is just a little too reminiscent of Regurgitator. The gruff tone of lead singer Lachlan Wallace’s vocal with the stripped back P.O.D like interludes in the chorus work well together. Definitely a great track to practice your rockin out and swirly hippy moves to.
‘Bastard’ is really well done ska and rock fusion, snake rattle effects, tinny piano and ominous organ effects melt in with warbling guitar, making light work of the underlying story of a man cheating on his partner. ‘Mediocrity’ is a nice mess of groove and funk bass tones, with a fast paced drum beat and some squealing guitar solos adding extra texture.
‘The Vulture’ proves to be another highlight as an intro to screaming and screeching birds explodes into the liveliest and funk saturated tune on the EP. It brings the main theme on the flaws of society home, as the band echo words written on the inside cover of the album ‘Violence like a Vulture, feeding on our culture’.
Lachlan’s vocal range has been compared to Mike Patton’s and they do have a similar tone, but consistency is not quite there, at times soaring and others faltering. Lyrics are strong and well written and prove to be a stand out element of the EP. The band is attempting something different and I think a bit more of a spit and polish and an ounce more experimentation will prove the winning formula.
The Arachnids have been game enough to push their creative beast off the cliff. ‘The Vulture’ is a solid and skilled effort that carries across a fusion of rock, psychedelia, funk, ska and groove well and is a lot more out of the box than most. Whether it soars towards the sun or plummets to the depths below, only time will tell.
Nazia Hafiz
Opening track ‘No More Reason’ has all the qualities of a Living End track, a slab of edgy rock bouncing along to a swinging beat. The best part of the tune kicks into some really sweet guitar licks, bundled with psychedelic synth effects, about two thirds of the way through. The upbeat music conveys a message about living life, instead of sitting on the fence or fantasising about what could be.
‘Radio Storm’ starts with the sound of a TV channel switching through static before climbing into funky distortion, that is just a little too reminiscent of Regurgitator. The gruff tone of lead singer Lachlan Wallace’s vocal with the stripped back P.O.D like interludes in the chorus work well together. Definitely a great track to practice your rockin out and swirly hippy moves to.
‘Bastard’ is really well done ska and rock fusion, snake rattle effects, tinny piano and ominous organ effects melt in with warbling guitar, making light work of the underlying story of a man cheating on his partner. ‘Mediocrity’ is a nice mess of groove and funk bass tones, with a fast paced drum beat and some squealing guitar solos adding extra texture.
‘The Vulture’ proves to be another highlight as an intro to screaming and screeching birds explodes into the liveliest and funk saturated tune on the EP. It brings the main theme on the flaws of society home, as the band echo words written on the inside cover of the album ‘Violence like a Vulture, feeding on our culture’.
Lachlan’s vocal range has been compared to Mike Patton’s and they do have a similar tone, but consistency is not quite there, at times soaring and others faltering. Lyrics are strong and well written and prove to be a stand out element of the EP. The band is attempting something different and I think a bit more of a spit and polish and an ounce more experimentation will prove the winning formula.
The Arachnids have been game enough to push their creative beast off the cliff. ‘The Vulture’ is a solid and skilled effort that carries across a fusion of rock, psychedelia, funk, ska and groove well and is a lot more out of the box than most. Whether it soars towards the sun or plummets to the depths below, only time will tell.
Nazia Hafiz