Antarctica – Beheaded By Voltron

There are a lot of bands named Antarctica. Most of them are metal. The continent itself is bleak, inhospitable, primeval. Metal. With this Antarctica, I just get the impression it was a pseudo sardonic “odd” choice of name when these musicians were “starting” this band. And yes, they play metal, at least in name only. Their new album, Beheaded By Voltron (of course this is the name of the album), is a concoction of scenecore/ bordering on art grind freakouts. The album begins with 20 seconds of snapping fingers (of course it begins this way) and then gives way to sloppy semi serious fretwork interlaced with dehydrated breakdowns. Atop this are the custom apathetic screechy vocals and exaggerated spoken word sections (yeah, of course there are).

The first thing that strikes upon first listen is the overall amateur nature of this disc, and not only that, but the realization that these guys are playing music that hit it’s heyday seven years ago. Not only are they behind the times, but they are not really reviving a style of music that deserves or needs it. The current crop that are peddling this chic amateurism are travesties like Heavy Heavy Low Low, and Dr. Acula… God knows it’s popular, but I guess these Wayne’s Worlders would call me too old to get it… Or am I just old enough?

The hilarious truth behind this album is that there are some genuinely great riffs. When the sugary egos dissolve, underneath are pretty intricate and compelling phrasings. Honestly, some of these moments could be taken from a Cephalic Carnage record. It is too bad it feels like an afterschool band straight out of 2003 is attempting to play the written material. These brief highlights are few and far between (skip to “The Magic Bullet” and “Distributing. Rhythmic. Abuse.”), and they certainly do not save this album from being something even fans and devoted listeners of this style would appreciate. Skip this one, there is better metal out this year… although it is nice to remember there was a humbler origin to the new wave of noise.

(4/10)

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A Couple Miles Closer To Antarctica: Another Interview with Trap Them

http://intensedebate.com/people/hearwax Logan Broger

Are they not #12 enough for you?
Alec

not enough Jon Karel

http://intensedebate.com/people/hearwax hearwax

not enough "jazz"

Alec

there is some "jazz" on it

I dunno… I just do not know why they made this. It is such a strange release. I cannot even find their myspace

Guest

http://www.myspace.com/antarcticaiscold
Guest

Hey Alec, what band are you in?
QUADE

the songs written and recorded on this album are by a 16 year old kid.
what the fuck were you doing at 16?
im guessing jacking off to "REAL" metal.

start your own band and shut up faggot.

Alec

I gave your band a fair shot, and think that whoever is writing some of these riffs has mega potential down the road to concoct some pretty crazy stuff. While I do not expect you to be happy this got a sub par review, I suggest you take it with a grain of salt. When you put your art out there, people will share their opinions on it, it just comes with the territory. It would be patronizing to say "get used to it" as I am more than sure there is an audience for Beheaded By Voltron, but make another album, I'll check it out.
Christian

First of all, you should be thanking this person for taking the time both listen to and review the album.

Second, you were not the only person involved in the writing and recorded.

http://intensedebate.com/people/hearwax Logan Broger

we at hearwax want to know why you left the band

Christian

Well, I'd already been concerned about the nature of the song writing going into this project and as time went on this feeling became validated. I was becoming agitated with the control issues, musically and otherwise, within the band and so at the height of my frustration I publicly told them, in so many words (and not so kindly), that some of the stuff was bordering plagiarism and I have told them the very same in the past. Because I did not condone a lot of what went on in that band, and due to the public nature of my accusations, they decided to remove me.

I want to avoid slandering them as players, because obviously they are not lacking talent. They are also not bad people, and I do wish them well in their future musical endeavors.

If anyone is interested about my specific contributions to the album, check the blog on their page with the album title or you can email me.

Alec

via Myspace, it would seem you wrote the songs I reffered to in my review (Magic Bullet) etc, as being the most worthwhile parts of the album. Hopefully your ability to write lands you in another band… try going for a death metal one, some of these riffs are pretty techy.

QUADE

the songs written and recorded on this album are by a 16 year old kid.
what the fuck were you doing at 16?
im guessing jacking off to "REAL" metal.

start your own band and shut up faggot.

Alec

I gave your band a fair shot, and think that whoever is writing some of these riffs has mega potential down the road to concoct some pretty crazy stuff. While I do not expect you to be happy this got a sub par review, I suggest you take it with a grain of salt. When you put your art out there, people will share their opinions on it, it just comes with the territory. It would be patronizing to say "get used to it" as I am more than sure there is an audience for Beheaded By Voltron, but make another album, I'll check it out.
Christian

First of all, you should be thanking this person for taking the time both listen to and review the album.

Second, you were not the only person involved in the writing and recorded.

http://intensedebate.com/people/bugu bugu

Lol, I'd love to know how age is at all relevant. Decapitated were a really young band when they wrote Winds of Creation, and it's a death metal classic.
Also, starting a band better than Antarctica would make this a better release how?
http://intensedebate.com/people/bugu bugu

Lol, I'd love to know how age is at all relevant. Decapitated were a really young band when they wrote Winds of Creation, and it's a death metal classic.
Also, starting a band better than Antarctica would make this a better release how?
Alec

press!
Pingback: Antarctica – Beheaded By Voltron | hearwax | antarcticas
http://intensedebate.com/people/hearwax hearwax

not enough "jazz"
Alec

there is some "jazz" on it

I dunno… I just do not know why they made this. It is such a strange release. I cannot even find their myspace
Christian

Well, I'd already been concerned about the nature of the song writing going into this project and as time went on this feeling became validated. I was becoming agitated with the control issues, musically and otherwise, within the band and so at the height of my frustration I publicly told them, in so many words (and not so kindly), that some of the stuff was bordering plagiarism and I have told them the very same in the past. Because I did not condone a lot of what went on in that band, and due to the public nature of my accusations, they decided to remove me.

I want to avoid slandering them as players, because obviously they are not lacking talent. They are also not bad people, and I do wish them well in their future musical endeavors.

If anyone is interested about my specific contributions to the album, check the blog on their page with the album title or you can email me.
Alec

via Myspace, it would seem you wrote the songs I reffered to in my review (Magic Bullet) etc, as being the most worthwhile parts of the album. Hopefully your ability to write lands you in another band… try going for a death metal one, some of these riffs are pretty techy.