Octohawk Post “Arcane Dawn” Video; New Album Determinist Out Now
Posted in Bootleg Theater on August 28th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
I’m not going to play coy here or try to make you believe I’m groundfloor on this one. Octohawk‘s second album, Determinist, came out in June through Crime Records. Hailing from Drammen, Norway, the self-recording band posted the video below for “Arcane Dawn” in July. It’s not “new” in the current sense of coming out this or next week, and I’m sure that, being cooler than I am as you are, you’ve already heard it, digested it, appreciated the meld of modern progressive metal crunch — what’s often called “progressive sludge” but may or may not actually be that thing in terms of influence — with heavy spaces and keyboard flourish, roots in more aggressive fare but a willingness to look beyond who or whatever it’s pissed off about to more thinky-thoughty meditations.
To wit, the title refers to the philosophical framework in which human actions are inevitable — anything that happens was always going to happen regardless of our intention or will otherwise — and the sound is correspondingly encompassing, taking lessons from the the gruffer side of Mastodon and outfits like Gojira in the interplay between harsher and cleaner vocals and a crisp production that accounts for atmosphere as well as complexity of impact in pieces like “Decode” and the later catchy roller “Beyond Tomorrow.” Building and releasing tension is fair enough game for the genre, and Octohawk are by no means the first metal band to bring keyboard ambience to hard-hitting riffs, but as they demonstrate in the seething lumber of centerpiece “Momentum,” Determinist is heady but not at the cost of sheer force. 
It’s just that the band are willing to hit you on multiple levels at once.
One of the results of that is a busy sound, but at no point on Determinist — be it the mathy pummel of “Quantum Age” or the building interlude “Earthrise’ ahead of “Beyond Tomorrow” and the all-in payoff of finale “Gateways” that follows — do Octohawk seem confused about where a song is heading. Some bands can just juggle riffs, I guess. And if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed in the peak intensity of “Decode” — you’ll know you’re into the comedown when the sitar arrives — or crushed by “Arcane Dawn” as you watch the hooded figures carrying duly geometric orbs and disintegrating soldiers from this or that World War in the video (plus lasers!), I don’t think that’s happenstance either. If you haven’t taken the record or band on before, keep in mind that they know where it’s all heading, and that whatever unexpected turns are made along the way, the path they take is one of narrative as well as character. That is to say, there’s a reason it sounds like that, and very clearly Octohawk know what they’re doing.
Committed to a DIY ethic across multiple dimensions of what that means, these guys got in touch through the site’s contact form, and while I’m sorry to have not been able to talk up Determinist pre-release — time marches forward and I get no better at internetting — I feel fortunate to have been able to hear the record at all. Lesson learned. If you have eight minutes to dedicate to the video, be ready to give more time to the album (player near the links at bottom). Whether you sit and pick it apart angle by angle or allow it to wash over you as it seems at times so ready to do, there’s no wrong way to go so long as you enjoy.
Have at it:
Octohawk, “Arcane Dawn” official video
Available on Digipak CD, Gatefold LP (Limited Edition first press), and Digital Download and Streaming.
Join us on a transcendental voyage as Octohawk unveils their magnum opus, Determinist, accompanied by the mesmerizing third single and visual spectacle, Arcane Dawn!
Octohawk’s sophomore album, Determinist, is a synopsis of the deterministic era, from the humble experimental beginnings to the complete coalescence with ever-flowing information. Each of the seven tracks represents the significant stages in this endeavor, from man on the ground to being a part of the eternal stream.
The album is released with a music video for their third single, Arcane Dawn, that guides you through the dawn of a new era, where humanity grapples with the value of newfound insights, breaking free from archaic beliefs and embracing a continual progression.
Determinist will hit fans of The Ocean, Mastodon, and Igorr right in the face. Expanded diversity, heavier, and more of the good stuff – JUST THE RIGHT KIND OF HEAVY!
Edited by Stian Svorkmo at Stone:arock Studio, with camera work by Stian Svorkmo, Steffen Overaa, and Espen Geitsund. Script by Stian Svorkmo and Steffen Overaa.
Members:
Stian Svorkmo: Vocals & Guitar
Steffen Overaa: Synth & Vocals
Christian Schei: Guitar
Espen Geitsund: Bass
David Jøndahl Hjellum: Drums
