OCTO CRURA
Aracno Clan
Exciting and refreshing Italian death/black metal act OCTO CRURA are just about to unveil their stunning sophomore album “Aracno Clan” to the world. Is it a worthy follow up to their excellent 2022 debut album “Tagmata”? Let’s find out!
Over the last few years, I have watched OCTO CRURA develop and grow from freshly hatched spiderling newbie’s into fully mature, highly skilled and deadly adults. They are just so unlike any other band out there as they spin their silky black web to deceptively lure you in with their own intoxicating brand of metal. Just like a venomous spider bite, your head will be left swooning and spinning with each new song as the pulsating sound waves pass through your mind and body.
The twin vocals of arachnid queens Velenia and Katlin pull you first one way and then the other as they taunt and tease you whilst deliberately toying with the fabric of your mind. Brutal, clean and everything in between, resistance is totally futile as OCTO CRURA draw you in like a moth to the flame. The choice for you is a simple one, join the “Aracno Clan” or become the prey and be devoured.
There are banging modern metal tunes on offer with some obvious industrial influences, such as “Thousand Voices”, “Raw Meat Love” and “Kiss The Sun”. The riffs are super heavy as they weave a dark web and doomy atmosphere that will firstly immerse you and then completely insnare you.
Short and sharp, fast and furious tracks such as “Gallowglass” and title tune “Aracno Clan” are an absolute scream, so full of pumped-up energy and zest. If these songs fail to get you moving, then unfortunately you may already be stuck in OCTO CRURA’s silky orb and about to be today’s lunch.
The superbly crafted homage to the old SEGA platform game “Shinobi 1987” and the equally unique “Wukong And The Spider Demon” have an almost retro techno fused with metal feel to them which keeps them unmistakably authentic OCTO CRURA signature tunes. What an absolute blast they really are!
Longer compositions “Black Flamingo”, “Mujer Araña” and “Your Ghost” are much more intense slow burning songs with more than a generous sprinkling of futuristic, electronic metal content. This blends perfectly with some beautifully worked light/dark vocal harmonies from our leading ladies. OCTO CRURA are more than capable of spinning several threads, so be warned.
In this modern metal world where there are so many great bands out there all jockeying for recognition, OCTO CRURA really do have that quirky individual style that shines out from the darkness and gives them an edge. OCTO CRURA are certainly going from strength to strength in my opinion and “Arcano Clan” is going to help them immensely with that journey. Highly recommended!
Mark Waight