Release Date: April 11th 2025. Record Label: Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records). Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Euarthropodia - Tracklisting
1.Eschaton 04:04
2.Withered World 04:23
3.Insects Took Over 04:14
4.Trooping For Euarthropodia 04:50
5.Ballad Of Propellerheads 04:28
6.Queens Of The New World 03:52
7.Nutritional Protocol 03:47
8.Arthrobotic Liberty 03:44
9.Aeon 04:53
Members:
Roland Hickmann - vocals/guitar/percussion
Florian Primavesi - vocals/guitar/keys
Wolfgang Brunauer - vocals/bass
Wolfgang Ruppitsch - drums/percussion
Review
Euarthropodia is the new album from Progressive Stoner Rockers Grey Czar which is a conceptual album of sorts where the band blend Progressive Rock/Metal melodies with traces of Doom and Psychedelic qualities appearing. With a complex story being woven into the mix, the music can be quite jagged and abstract at first with Grey Czar playing an interesting style of “stop/start” sounding guitars within the sublime opening track of Eschaton. The vocals are varied and quite different with three members of the band performing vocal duties throughout.
The Space Rock aspect of Euarthropodia is one of the strongest things about the album with the music perhaps taking some time to fully get on board with. However, Grey Czar conjures up some intriguing Post-Rock and Post-Metal instrumental passages which have a sense of calm in the quieter moments and urgency when the heavier dynamics appear. You can hear influences as diverse as QUEEN, Thin Lizzy, Mastodon and The Mars Volta within every aspect of Grey Czar’s musical delivery.
Euarthropodia feels like one extended track broken down into individual chapters as the majority tracks flow brilliantly throughout with the closing parts of each track expertly opening up the following track especially on Withered World, Insects Took Over and Trooping For Euarthropodia.
The whole sound moves into different areas of Prog Rock and Prog Metal with a cinematic style of Doom and Stoner based surroundings only coming into play when the groundwork has been laid down for those parts to dramatically appear. There’s a deep affection for 1970’s Prog Rock and 1980’s Hard Rock on the album which shows within the OTT musical delivery which can be downright excessive and outrageous at times especially within the lyrics and how the vocals are delivered.
My favourite tracks on the album are: Eschaton, Insects Took Over, Trooping For Euarthropodia, Queens Of The New World and Aoen. As these tracks have some of the most technically impressive musical passages on the whole album and with perhaps the heaviest and outlandish grooves are played right here.
Grey Czar have created an audio feast that’s brilliantly surreal, wonderfully weird and superbly entertaining with a first rate story line that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Grand Sounds Promotion for the promo.
Euarthropodia is available to buy on CD via Octopus Rising (Argonauta Records) and Digital/Vinyl formats from the band.
Links
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