Review: "Rich Octopus" Album by Rich Octopus
A rollicking, wild, animalistic fervor defines Rich Octopus’ self-titled debut. Volume is an absolute must, for these songs are true forces of nature. Gnarled guitar riffs intermingle with unhinged rhythms to give the entirety of the “Rich Octopus” album a blurred beauty.
Best of all are the vocals which effortlessly rise above the din. Delivered with such bluntness, the lyrics have a lived-in quality to them. Everything about the album works wonders from the sheer energy behind it to the way that the album comes together as a singular whole. The band’s attention to detail feels profound for they make sure not to waste a single moment. Stylistically they are heavily versed within a mid-00s sort of pop punk ethos.
Rich Octopus’ references abound throughout the journey. Elements of New Found Glory’s unstoppable energy appear in every track. Sheer catchiness recalls a bit of Blink 182’s anthemic presence. Everything about the sound features such a strong, welcoming presence. By embracing these sorts of groups, bringing them into their overall approach the way that they simply grow feels outright majestic. Buildups are non-existent for they simply start up immediately without any fanfare or anticipation, as the album rushes through swinging.
“Monotony” sets the tone for the “Rich Octopus” album with pure jolt as they dive headfirst into the sea of sound. For “Ron Swansong” they opt for a dramatic flourish to start things up with an economical beat anchoring it. Playful to its very core is the angular guitar work of “Elysian Feels”. Sung with such earnestness is the Beck-inspired lyricism of “Scars/Pieces of Me” where it takes on a warped sort of beauty.
An ode to the disoriented bliss, “High” stuns with its sheer passion. Things spread out a bit on the dreamier “Into Space”. Distortion reigns supreme over the fuzzed-out guitars of “Saul Gucci”. By far the highlight of the album is the rollicking “Heaven Knows” with multiple layers intermingling for maximum effect. Here Rich Octopus even bring a bit of shoegaze into the fray. Perfectly closing everything on a high note is the reflective “Diversion”.
Rich Octopus’ self-titled debut is one of those joyful things, a truly cathartic experience sung straight from the heart.