Spider Kitten
Ark Of Octofelis

SPIDER KITTEN is a British experimental-metal band which was formed in Cardiff, South Wales in 2001 by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Chi Lameo. Since that time, the band passed through numerous personnel changes and produced a couple of dozens releases varying stylistically from Drone-Noise and Electro-Industrial to Sludge, Doom, and Avant-Metal. In recent years, SPIDER KITTEN have been performing as a trio of Chi Lameo (vocals, guitars, keyboards, synths), Rob Davies (guitars, vocals, keyboards, synths), and Chris West (drums, percussion, bass, vocals, guitars, synths). Released through the British record-label Undergroove Records in May 2016, “Ark Of Octofelis” is the trio’s recent full-length album. This is an eclectic conceptual 8-part opus clocking in at over 46 minutes and varying stylistically from one track to another. People familiar with earlier recordings of SPIDER KITTEN know that the band is quiet unpredictable and can head in any direction. But this particular album turned to be beyond anyone’s expectations. 1-minute prologue “Underestimating The Consequences Of Effective Propaganda (Part I)” featuring only piano and vocal-narration is somewhat very close to the Nick Cave’s experience, while the following full-orchestrated 22-minute dark center-piece “Feline Will” evokes memories of space-psyche-prog-rock giants like Pink Floyd, Amon Düül II, Hawkwind, or Porcupine Tree (the epic features guest appearance of bassist Alex White, guitarist-vocalist Jimmy Rowe, and female-singers Lucy Raine and Chelsea Enness). Throughout the remaining album’s parts the band managed to cover the stylistic areas of semi-acoustic Folk (“The Ark”, “Hymn”, “Duplicitous”), electrified fuzzed-out Stoner-Doom-Metal (“One From The Heart”, “Launch”), and Noise-Avantgarde. What we have here in sum is undoubtedly the most ambition, complex, variable, yet melodically colorful and listenable recording by the band to date. Highly recommended for lovers of conceptual sci-fi sagas beyond the stylistic limitations and stereotypes.