Behold The Arctopus - Canada

[enhalantabuse]

i've really learned to like this band, and i despise metal.

[burcasagrande]

vish, q qué isso ... that´s so fucking crazy

[maximumsatann]

Man, this is a toe-tapper.

[vokills420]

i kind of wish this band wasn't instrumental. they're really good at times and then it feels a little bland, maybe it's not a lack of vocals just personal taste.

[SkwisgaarScampini]

2:50 sounds great! I wish they'd play stuff like that that is progressive AND sounds good, instead of just playing the shittiest experimental garbage you could possibly spew out of a guitar

[xMontblanc]

If you don't like this, you probably have no creativity to speak for yourself

[MrTumorHumor]

Response to the description: I don't like it, i'm just here to steal all the odd timings like everyone else...

[KaleTheShadow]

That album is called Skullgrid, not Skullgrind.

[CarlosP47]

I think i'm starting to get it... :)

[darkmessiahnz]

I used to dislike this style of music but now listening to it I think it's pretty cool. The part at 2:22 is wicked!

[Sc0ttPrian]

to the people who dont think this is music - Bach did not invent music :)

[blackcoffeeaddict]

What in the... I don't... This is... Huh?

/transmission

[nick0is0ace]

You can tell that these guys are incredible musicians. However from a music point of view this is utter shit.

[GuitarExplicit]

Now I will play a tune in 189/2139 time in the B Hypophrygian mode.

[LeGrugkbdst]

@GuitarExplicit At least make the denominator a power of 2 if you're going to attempt to sound like you know what you're talking about.

[ThePanzerThunder]

sick bastards

[bradeism]

This isn't catchy at all, but I can't stop listening to it.

[miyavizim]

It's not bad..just not something to listen everyday

[MrKevnzero]

Reminds me of some of the avant-garde experiments Frank Zappa used to record. Impressive on a technical level, but not for me. But to say this band sucks isn't an honest statement. They don't. They just aren't for everyone.

[mbuschmann]

Anyone who doesn't like this only listened to the first two minutes.

chill the fuck out, smoke a doob, and get ready for the song to fuck shit up at 2:10

[whothefuckisbob93]

retardednoisesquad.bandcamp.co­m

[cactusjack901]

@bestdrummerntheworld You said good music, but I went to your videos, and saw Travis Barker. Not to say that Mr. Parker is a bad musician, but he has a very unrefined style, and writes rather simplistic music. Such couldn't be said about this; just because you couldn't feel the rhythm doesn't mean it isn't there. Also, fuck the assholes who flagged your comment as spam.

[dROUFrank]

I really like these guys, I don't get when people say this is unmusical or has no structure.

I know absolutely fuck all about music theory or playing, I couldn't play a lick to save my neck, but it doesn't take personal skill or theory to get these guys. I reckon it's principally your attitude towards what they're trying to do.

They just keep me interested. I want to know what's happening next when I listen to their music, and I enjoy repeat listening because I catch new things each time.

[ceilingkatt]

@dROUFrank you should pick up an instrument good sir.

[george4mon]

i didnt like the first 2 minutes but the rest was awesome!

[ShaneThompson94]

Im very curious to why its named Canada??

[PSNDaSingh]

I wanna put 2:12 in a loop.

[JacquesGleizer]

I actually really am very impressed by your talent, but am underwhelmed by the musicality and soul. All technique, no soul.

[danteslasher]

@JacquesGleizer Maybe it's a different kind of soulful that you aren't able to comprehend

[envolopee]

@JacquesGleizer did you listen to the song after 2 mins..id say it gets pretty soulfull

[AntiHero1996]

@JacquesGleizer Experimental metal jazz. They have no souls

[thedearpsychonaut]

@JacquesGleizer disagree, i feel a lot of emotion coming out of this.

[MWEICHENG]

@JacquesGleizer So what exactly is "soul"? Playing extremely slow melodic parts with lots of string bending and vibrato? I'm sure the band put a lot of soul and thought into the writing their of complex music and there is in fact a lot of soul in it, just not your kind of "soul".

[plazmacyaen]

Adorable, very elegant.

[MetalHealth30]

Pretty good stuff.

[BlikeNave]

2nd half of this song is ballin.

[dustsmallhong]

I'm sorry but I can't see any music sense inside =.=....

[MorbidMarauder]

@dustsmallhong That's your problem.

[OrlyWaitYeah]

I actually really like this song. People should listen to this one instead of alcoholocuast.

[000theUnforgiven000]

Sounds pretentious to me. 

[shariotoflove]

@000theUnforgiven000 jazz IS pretentious, yes.

[maju36able]

@shariotoflove but also extremely badass if done right

[shariotoflove]

@maju36able true but you can still do it right and yet be pretentious. but BTA certainly is more badass than pretentious.

[PSNDaSingh]

I wish more of their songs are like 2:12 and after. Does anyone know any songs like that?

[blueshotgun017]

@PSNDaSingh Yeah man- start listening to more Yes. "Close To The Edge" is a good start.

[ZachMetalAsFuck]

@PSNDaSingh reminds me of a lot of animals as leaders stuff i've heard, you should look them up.

[PSNDaSingh]

@ZachMetalAsFuck I already know them.

[Valentine2992]

Sounds phenomenal!

I can't stand most of Death Metal / Progressive Metal bands with vocals, cause 90% of DM/PM singers sound like a retarded midget trying to swallow a cock.

Instrumental bands are the real deal, especially this one <3

[EvilDudeoftheDead]

My immediate reaction: "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!"

My current reaction: "HOLY MOTHERFUCKING SHIT!"

This band be rocking mah sox!

[Carnalspoil]

Every time I listen to this song I love it a little more.

And I hated it at first.

[Skinnertech71]

they are very talented .

[jester856]

It's impossible headbanging to this.

[FleshgodKalmahCynic]

fuck me

these are the most underrated jazzy metal djent proggresive musicians

i've evr heard

[JamesHazBeHaiTyme]

@FleshgodKalmahCynic There is no djent in this, but all the rest is true

[FleshgodKalmahCynic]

@JamesHazBeHaiTyme yes there are they play a 12 strings bass

[JamesHazBeHaiTyme]

@FleshgodKalmahCynic That doesn't mean Djent man. Djent doesn't mean music that is tuned low. Djent is a chord pionered by meshuggah and used by bands like periphery. It is a muted power chord with an additional 13th, which is used to form the rhythm.

[FleshgodKalmahCynic]

@JamesHazBeHaiTyme seriously, that's cool i've always thought that djent was when they played an instrument with extra chords

[ZachMetalAsFuck]

i dig experimental, and these guys are fucken ridiculously talented, every single one of them. but i can't sit here and listen to this and enjoy it.. its just too over-the-top it almost looses all musical essence .. its just a shit ton of noise. i don't feel it .... idk it seems like writing like this would involve a calculator more than it would involve any sort of passion .. but maybe im wrong and just can't feel it.

[shadowfootball1]

@ZachMetalAsFuck I have to agree with this.

[SB87JB]

@ZachMetalAsFuck i understand where you're coming from but a lot of masterpieces were calculated. the sistine chapel, the last supper, everything by m.c. escher, bach, beethoven.. this song has a very strict structure, they just rearrange the rhythms and motifs in ways most people are used to (unless they listen to 20th century classical and free jazz a lot). also, people who say they like music based on passion usually like formulaic and predictable music, whether they want to admit it or not.

[ZachMetalAsFuck]

@SB87JB you make some good points. a lot of great music has been 'calculated' as you put it, but i guess my problem with these guys is it almost seems to me they pay No attention to the sound that they're making, but put 100% focus on to musical theory and their sound is not creative, their theory is creative, you know what i mean? i highly doubt these guys can even bob their heads to their own music. i've always felt one of the worst things any musician can do is get TOO involved with theory.

[TheMrRye]

Holy shit, this is so math

[dremora1324]

They're really good musicians, but I can't really listen to this and like it...

[jazzwing]

I became sick of this style of music not long ago, it seems everyone's trying to do it. It's just BORING.

[ceilingkatt]

@jazzwing Sorry, but there are only 3 bands I can think off the top of my head that pull off this style of music well, that is dream theater, sikth, and behold the arctopus.

[XMcEvilson]

@ceilingkatt & blotted science. sikth has terrible vocals though

[NotAGamingChannel]

@ceilingkatt

How are dream theater or sikth similar to this at all?

[ceilingkatt]

@NotAGamingChannel They write technical/progressive music. Other bands do too, but in the metal genre, these are the best (ie. my faves), and most original. Listen to Instrumedley by Dream Theater, Way Beyond the Old Fond River by sikth. They have alot of similarities with the behold the arctopus imo.

[13spite13]

I'm sure they can use their technicality and "atonal" sounding sections to form songs that are more "pleasing" to the ear. Although technicality makes up interesting songs when used as a polyrythmic counter beat to the main 'pulse', a song based on "crazyness" ends up being boring and emotionless to average listners. I really think this band could create great music, they just need to stop thinking in terms of part by part, and look at "the big picture" and structure songs that way.

[imakery]

people just tack on the word jazz so they can express how complex this music is. Its not jazz because it is complex, jazz is much different.

[imakery]

I can respect this, but fuck, this is not jazz.

[SB87JB]

@imakery It's to jazz what jazz is to ragtime. Sam rivers, Cecil Talyor, Coltranes later stuff, and Steve Lehman all do pretty extreme things within the jazz realm that shares ideas with this music.

[imakery]

@SB87JB this isnt improvised...Jazz is about freedom, and this doesnt really have that freedom.

[Superhansthemiracle]

Who needs tonality?

[iSirLincoln]

Kind of annoying.....not really music to me just noise but if you like it then its not my buisness.

[FleshgodKalmahCynic]

hell yea these jazzz metal musicianas are good

[purebaldness]

After reading all the comments I feel bad for liking this stuff! Ha

[Hellcore999]

To all those who said this is shit. LISTEN TO SOME FUCKIN JAZZ AND EDUCATE YOURSELF! This is pure art not some simple guys playin the whole song through 4/4

[AnonymouStalkerCorp]

"Hey guys, I did a real good vocal cover of this song!"

[Taylorlit]

I would pay for 2:11 and on alone.

[RaMbOwgINI]

How is this bad? I think this is really good. And how come this band (that is not even that famous) gets so much haters?

[haxage]

did all you sons of bitches not hear 2:11 and onwards

is that not the greatest fucking musical achievement of the 21st century or what

[hmpolux5]

c'mon guys,enjoy, tomorrow will be something much more bizarre than this, and comments will be like , "Oh man, i love Behold the Arctopus , But this ..this is shit " haha

[ZombicidalMan]

I can't take this band seriously... it's kind of like a 'Fuck you.' to all the other technical bands out there. But I'll be honest, I'd rather have music with more obvious melody, that isn't afraid to still be technical (Scale The Summit for example). This is like... it's too technical for me. Props to the band members, though.

[iSometimesWriteMusic]

Actually, this makes me laugh (: Feels like they are trolling somehow, parodying technical metal with being overly dissonant and poly rhythmical. Not saying it's bad, just that I find it humorous.

[Beatheduck]

Behold The Arctopus is amazing...even BTBAM's guitarist (Paul Waggoner i think) used their T-shirt (the yellow one ;D) in the Colors live DVD:P

[ironpianist]

Polyrhythm to the max dude shit and to think dream theater was insane

[UnholyX07Death]

why is the song called Canada?

[barbwireboy2]

I'm not sure what to think of this. It just sounds like very talented people jamming randomly...

[skimbap]

If its our first time listening to this band and are curious about it how are we to not know if we like it or not? Is the point of comments not to express ones opinion about what they had just seen?

[PunksDeadEmoK1dsN3xt]

@skimbap

Yes of course. In the description I'm obviously talking about those that already know they dislike the band, but for some reason go from video to video, explaining to people why they supposedly suck. But I guess you already understood that and just wanted to sound smart.

[skimbap]

@PunksDeadEmoK1dsN3xt Did not want to sound smart, although compared to the rest of the fans here I guess I really do. I did not take it as an anti-trolling statement, I took it as a fanboy simply angry at the people who dislike the band, the kind of fanboy that would tear anyone up, saying that people do not understand complexity, when in reality this style of metal just does not interest them.

[BoesesomenMHFde]

can't tell if skilled

or just trolling



[DarkMindMedia]

I can't decide if this is complete shit, or just on a level of composition that is beyond my understanding.

[metalmaniac2493]

@DarkMindMedia It's complete shit. An obnoxious display of pseudo-technicality and self-indulgence. There is nothing technical about this, this is just a set of awful melodies played at random speeds with silly drumming so that people can listen to it while stroking their beards and pretending that they enjoy this shit so people think they understand a level of composition that doesn't exist.

[Fuelofwar77]

@metalmaniac2493 *Strokes beard*

Fuck...

[DubstepWubWubWub]

@metalmaniac2493

You could say that any band is just a bunch of silly melodies played at different speeds.

But you know what? They fucking did it before anyone else.

[metalmaniac2493]

@DubstepWubWubWub "You could say that any band is just a bunch of silly melodies played at different speeds." Well, you could but you'd be wrong. Good bands have GOOD melodies played at SPEEDS THEY SOUND GOOD AT, as opposed to this. I'm not really sure what you're getting at here or if you're just an idiot trying to sound smart. Who cares if they did it before anyone else? There was a good reason why this kind of thing wasn't done before: it's shit.

[DubstepWubWubWub]

@metalmaniac2493

Dio Sucks.

[SB87JB]

@metalmaniac2493 What constitutes good? my grandfather doesnt dislikes metal for the same reasons you dislike this band i.e. its too fast and confusing, the melodies are too harsh etc... music evolves and as people age they have trouble keeping up with it. This music is made for people with experience in post modern classical, free jazz, and tech metal. if you dont understand one of those genres chances are you wont understand this band.

[metalmaniac2493]

@SB87JB If you knew anything about the genres you're mentioning you'd know exactly why i think this sucks. This is not technical this is nonsense, the musical equivalent of gibberish. If you enjoy it for some reason that's fine by me but 99% are just pretending to enjoy this rubbish in an attempt to appear deep. If everyone here "understands" this how come all anyone can talk about is how crazy the time signature is and how it's sooooo complex? They can't. This is all just a massive circlejerk.

[SB87JB]

@metalmaniac2493 Discussing anything in depth with only 500 characters is pretty difficult. People write entire dissertations on the complexities of Olivier Messiaen and Krzysztof Penderecki's music; you could do the same with this album because it utilizes similar advanced techniques. 12 tone, serialism, palindromic motifs and asymmetrical and meters, as well as references to a hundred other genres appear in this song alone. You simply can't fit it all into a youtube comment.

[Gigakoops]

Song structure = 69/Pi

[McKintionary]

Dissonance Core.

[ledzeppelin154]

my 2 year old son can play better than this garbage

[majorblood87]

@ledzeppelin154 post a video of it then dumbass

[supercoolsephirothis]

@ledzeppelin154 Your 2 year old son doesn't even weigh more that the 12 string guitar used here.

[mysteriousDSF]

Bartók metal

[TheFallOfTroy15]

Simply amazing. So much talent.

[skizotypeofficial]

: o like

[lennythecow123]

wtf....never heard anything like this before. not sayin thats a bad thing. jusayin.

[schink24]

"If you don't like it, what the hell are you doing here?" Trying new bands and not enjoying them sounds like an option. Although the 'not enjoying' part is hard to understand with a song like this.

[InsanityIsNormality]

Well...this sucks...

[DJxOCEANx]

2:10 - 4:00 is the only reason i have this song on my ipod... they need to make more beautiful sounding stuff like that segment.

[ChrisMontante]

@DJxOCEANx That part is so epic!!!!!

[ElFudgeMusic]

Heh, this is actually pretty cool. Not something I'd listen on a daily basis, but still pretty interesting.

[ServeTheBeaver]

This is a weird thing to thank someone for, but thank you for the thoroughness in the description. I was about to ask what album this was from as I'm just now starting to get into them.

Fucking amazing, of course.

[jsteele07189]

Another awesome progressive metal band from New York: Animals As Leaders. It isn't as extreme as this, but that's not really saying much :) check 'em out!

[HighVoltagexx]

@jsteele07189 Fuck yeah, AAL

[YouAreNumberSeven]

@jsteele07189

AaL is from D.C., but still fuck yeah AaL!

[jsteele07189]

@YouAreNumberSeven ah shit, you're right. fail. Well Animals As Leaders is awesome, and I can't wait for TRAM to record!

[YouAreNumberSeven]

@jsteele07189

Woooah, just checked out TRAM, looks like this will be a great year for music.

[mrchucknorris]

@YouAreNumberSeven

where did you hear the TRAM shit?

[watami10]

sounds like jazz metal if anything

[noneofyoucanspell]

@virilevocalist @arcturian627 They're also pretty hated like a lot of composers who were breaking ground long ago. Shit rules.

[roxorsoxor]

is all the music you upload technical? just sub'd, so i hopes so

[NothingonTF]

It kind of reminds me of Free Form Jazz. Just more metal.

[neveroddoreven]

Um....holy shit! I have never in my life heard anything like this before. This is mind-expandingly awesome stuff.

[ddensu]

Cool, It's like a less-disciplinated Spastic Ink.

[poisenbery]

2:12 gives me chills

[jsteele07189]

i wonder in what way this is inspired by Canada... like, in the middle of all this, the should'a just yelled "YEAH MOOSE" or something; that would make it related to Canada. lol but yeah this is sik

[thekillingfieldmusic]

@jsteele07189

pretty sure there is moose in other parts of the world than Canada. Typical stereo type. why dont they just say "eh" or play hockey.... lol stupid americans, not all but some just really dont think at all.

[jsteele07189]

@thekillingfieldmusic There are greasy cheeseburgers all over the world, but it's mostly associated with the USA. Same thing with moose and Canada. Yeah, that association is a stereotype, and that's why I used it. It was just a joke, eh? :)

[arcturian627]

This kinda music takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get into it, it's brilliant. 

[virilevocalist]

@arcturian627 Exactly. And the fact that they play this live the exact same way is a testament to the fact that this isn't just noodle-y wankery, but a carefully planned and executed song structure.

[arcturian627]

@virilevocalist Yeah. Just like the old classical composers. I love it. :D

[suicidalfailuretx]

@arcturian627 EXACTLY

[Fight4Anarchy]

first time ive heard them..... and there shit..... fucking shit

[OneEyeOctopus]

That's why this kind of music kicks so much ass.

[OneEyeOctopus]

Personally, when I listen to this song, it tells me a story. I imagine a man who's fed up with things, rapidly approaching his breaking point. He's going crazy, hearing voices and distorted echoes, and then he realizes his plan and unleashes a torrent of violence. Just as he starts to feel remorse, the authorities come. He runs through the icy Canadian forests. They catch up to him, he points his weapon, taunting them. As the bullets shred through him, he falls and lays dying with a smile.

[Smokeclouds702]

I was genuinely surprised... This is leagues ahead of other tech bands it actually has feeling and memorable songwriting.

[brittanyisaketten]

im so confused :p hehe this makes my brain explode and transform at the same time man can u imagine listening this in pitch black ?

[JDrockerDUDE]

dude these guys are good. its messed up that they get a bad rap just because there different.......

[shortcircuithecubus]

@JDrockerDUDE WOW anyone who gives this a bad rap clearly must like bad rap.

[CalvinSomething]

This is definitely the best song I've heard from these guys... Don't know if they still make music or what, but compared to their other songs, musically, this sounds like a step in the right direction.

[CR2012]

I like this piece from 2:13 'till about 4:06 it has a nice progression there but the rest is is like crazy virtuoso bullshit. Faster or more notes does not equal better

[hatefulfkface]

TOO... MUCH... CONTENT... This is so technical it would most likely give asian kids seizures...

[TheNiggerFeet]

4/4 does not exist only 63/47

[Gore1NOT1Core]

@TheNiggerFeet Your username and comment both made my day.

[AIC2374]

@TheNiggerFeet DAMN IT i would use that time signature but it doesnt exist. FUCK

[MrSeemby]

@AIC2374 Every fraction imaginable is a viable time signature, there was a man name Conlon Nancarrow who wrote, among others, a piece, in 6.1/the square root of pi.

[selurxelpirt]

@AIC2374 it's 3/8, 4/8, 4/8, 3/8, in that order.

[dscarmo]

if you dont play any instrumenct or know teorical music you will not like this

go away

[dscarmo]

holy shit this is impossible to count! math metal for sure!

where is the good old 4/4?

ehasuehause

[MrClaybass]

Frank Zappa meets metal

[Crackerkiller5]

delicious orgasmatron

[slayerguy51]

These guys could be good if their songs had maybe a ''little'' structure.

[MrDimmucof]

@slayerguy51 Structure is for faggots!

[thegravityplan3]

@MrDimmucof Reply to an old comment, yeah. But their work is EXTREMELY structured. They compose everything in advance to recording, and it really shows in their work.

It's just structured in a different way than what most people are used to.

[MrDimmucof]

@thegravityplan3 Dude, I know. I fucking love these guys. A lot of people don't get these guys...like at all...and they say there's no structure to their songs, so I just blurt out "Structure is for faggots!" Shuts them up real quick.

[ADeadHeaDz]

They succeeded in making Canada badass. :D

[2moonsrock]

I just got brainfucked, holy shit.

[InfoQuest4311]

these guys dont got nothin on blotted science

[ZOMFG102]

AHH MAN! you know what this reminds me of! of "An Endless Sparodic"

who else agrees after listining the whole song

[NRock2404]

this is just instrument mashing. no talent. a 5 year old could do this. pretty gay

[PunksDeadEmoK1dsN3xt]

@NRock2404

Then play it you piece of garbage, and post a vid of you playing it on your channel. LOSER

[NRock2404]

@PunksDeadEmoK1dsN3xt meh, unlike you kids I have better shit to do than hit a trashcan for five minutes