Gunslikegirls
The Octopus In The Igloo

Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

The post-hardcore genre is quite the commodity these days. The genre is filled to the brim with every sort of band trying to make a cash grab by adding screaming to their music and calling themselves post-hardcore. So in these days it’s refreshing to find a band that sets out to make post-hardcore and good post-hardcore at that. In Gunslikegirls debut album, The Octopus in the Igloo the New Jersey quintet take a different sort of approach by incorporating pop-punk with a sort of experimental post-hardcore that makes this EP very enjoyable. They don’t try to disguise what they are trying to do and that is part of what makes this release so special. Whether it’s the in-your-face style of drumming or the gut-wrenching screams there is not a dull moment in this entire 8 track EP.

The album itself starts of with two of the better tracks, Prices Switch and Hand Control. Both of these songs seem to highlight the drummer. (Who by the way is the most interesting musician in the band.) Jono Melamed is constantly leading the band into different tempos and time signatures but at the same time it seems so simplistic that at first listen it really doesn’t catch your ear but on repeat listens it is pretty hard to ignore. Hand Control, fittingly, starts with a drum intro quickly followed by the guitars led by Stephen Jaskco and Adam Kobylarz. The guitars themselves are also very entertaining to listen to even when they aren’t in the forefront. Jason Maikisch on the bass on the other hand, as with most post-hardcore music is basically nonexistent unless you listen with a nice pair of headphones. The song then continues with some great clean vocals along with the screams.

The album progresses from there with a 1:50 instrumental percussion song that is a nice change of pace but it does occur rather early in the EP. It would be a nice break in the middle maybe at track 5 or 6 not necessarily at track 3. When the album does pick its self back up it does so with a bang and it doesn’t let go until Intro to Obsession. The song is mostly a synth filled 2 minute ballad. We don’t hear any of the harsh screams which honestly we needed a break from anyway. Sure the screams from Jose Rodriguez add a great dynamic to the music but at times they can be overbearing and they detract from the music that is going on behind them. Most of the times even it is hard to understand what it being said. That is indeed one of the very few problems present on this release.

But when the entire band is one its hard not to just to smile and appreciate the music that is being made. Take for example He Is Not A Bird. The song manages to put together every aspect that makes Gunslikegirls a great band. The guitars manage to create an interesting ambiance while the vocals really take the forefront. A minute into the song the rest of the instruments, save the guitar, stop and then the phrase guard your sympathy is repeated over and over until the song slows down again only to picked right back up and about 2 minutes in through the rest of the song the guard your sympathy phrase is repeated over again but this time with different tempos and with different guitars behind the vocals, creating one of the best songs on The Octopus in the Igloo.

Gunslikegirls is indeed a unique band. Although the second half of the album is slightly less entertaining then the first half this release still manages to keep your attention the entire way through. Gunslikegirls do have a lot to offer and although they are not technically bringing anything new to the table they manage to display their stale genre of music in a new and creative way and hopefully reach a new sort of audience

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4.1 excellent

Rank: #0 for 2006