Review Summary: Beautiful, brutal, ambient... Giant Squid deliver a great post-metal album despite the numerous obstacles.
Giant Squid have had a tough time lately. After the release of their 1st album Metridium Fields they lost all but two of their band members and relocated to San Francisco. After finally getting their act together and putting together a full band roster, and making this album, their publicist Adrian Bromley died, meaning that The Ichthyologist will not be in stores near you. Only 1000 copies were pressed. Hopefully this will be picked up and published by another record label (Relapse, The End). (Written as of 3/5/09)
It really is weird that Giant Squid isn't more popular, I mean come on, they are one of the most original groups in years and they write fantastic music. The way they blend so many different instruments into one giant post-metal sound should get peoples attention, but almost like Burst, it's a mystery.
Back in the times of Metridium Fields I really liked their female vocalist, and when I heard she left the band I assumed that that was the end of what was a brilliantly executed idea. Her vocals (especially in Verses the Siren) really made Giant Squid's sound unique. Well luckily for us they found a new female vocalist who is not just as good, but better. Her voice adds even more to the mix than her predecessor. Just as before both vocalists play well of one another. Their new drummer, Chris Lyman, is simply put, much better at creating a good rhythm and mood than his predecessor.
On Metridium Fields sure, the songs were good, but there were problems. For one, the songs had a tendency to be long just for the sake of being long. Also, some songs did not need to be there at all (Megaptera In The Delta, Eating Machine, WTF?). And despite some problems most of the songs were very good, a few great. (Versus the Siren, Summit). Now usually an almost-full band roster switch can break up the sound of a band, but in Giant Squid's case it was for the better. Their sound is much more honed now, no more random jamming, and their songwriting is much improved over Metridium Fields.
There is more than one addition to Giant Squid's ever-growing instrument catalogue. (must be a nightmare to transport). Much more emphasis has been put on the violin,flute, oboe,cello and some banjo at times. Also in a few songs there is the new addition of screamed vocals, which they do quite well. Even with all the new additions, their sound remains intact, and is never confused with what it is, or what it's doing. And that sound is amazing post-metal.
This whole album is based upon the novel, The Ichthyologist, which is based upon the sea. This translates to the music directly. This album is every thing the sea represents. Brutal, calm, mysterious, and overall enveloping. One moment,you feel as if your calmly being swept along with the sea in an ambient passage, then you smash on a rock the next in the form of a crushing riff.
Now no album is without problems, and this is no different. The Ichthyologist is definitely metal, but it is less so then Metridium Fields. This is by no means a big problem it just concerns me for the future of this band. The atmospheric is great without a doubt, but the metal sections really give The Ichthyologist that extra kick that it needs, and if Giant Squid fully goes to a more alternative scene, I feel that their music may become much less fun and exciting to listen to.
Overall The Ichthyologist is a great album that excels in both the atmospheric and heavy sections post-metal has to offer.
Pros
-Better songwriting
-More instruments
-More skilled band members
-Beats the “at sea” concept by Mastodons, Leviathan
Cons
-Less heavy sections
-Only 1000 copies pressed
