Ctuhuluminati is back after an almost 6-year hiatus! Tentacula is the second full length from the band, that might be best described as progressive black/doom. Tijn checked out the album for us, and wrote down his thoughts. Let’s dive in!
We know that Cthuluminati knows how to tell stories through music. Tentacula is another great showcase of that talent. Cthuluminati is the band from Devi Hisgen, who we also know from The Color of Rain, amongst other projects. The band started out in 2015, from the remnants of Marquis, and has since released an album and a few singles. Tentacula is the second full length by the band.
The album consists of 6 songs. 4 of which are lengthy songs with 2 exceeding 10 minutes and 2 are just under 10 minutes. Longer songs can be difficult to execute since you need to be able to keep people invested for a longer period of time (which is especially hard in modern times where the attention span is generally dreadfully short). This feat is no challenge for Cthuluminati however. The songs remain intriguing and there’s so many layers that you can listen to it a few times and keep discovering new things.
From black metal vibes to progressive grooves and at times psychedelic tones, the songs have it all. While you could listen to it as background music while doing chores, I’d definitely recommend to take you time to listen and process everything that is happening. Close your eyes and let Cthuluminati take you on a journey through their realm. I’m positive that what H.P. Lovecraft had imagined when he created Cthulhu, this album would be a great way to express the realms of darkness.
The guitars, vocals, drums, bass (and all the odd background noises) show an incredible variety of sounds, with the guitars ranging from calm and ambient to shreddy sweep picking. The vocals are impressive with a wide vocal range and a lot of different, well executed, techniques. High singing may be popular, but it’s refreshing to hear great singing in a lower register. Their last song Mantra also adds some throat singing, which is a great addition, not just because the title but also being another showcase of their abilities.
As I said before, close your eyes and let Cthuluminati take you on a trip through the realms of darkness. Great work everyone, I’m a fan.
Tracklisting:
- Ctrhl
- Squid Pro Quo
- Abysmal Quatrain
- Transformation
- The illusion of control
- Mantra
Want to know more about Cthuluminati? Check them out on their own website.
