These Magnificent Tentacles - "Surfacing..." EP Review!!

It's now time for our 152nd monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, as we're taking a look at new local punk duo These Magnificent Tentacles' debut EP "Surfacing..."! Released to their Bandcamp page on February 7th, "Surfacing" was recorded last year at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones. This EP features T.M.T.'s original & current lineup, including Slumshine's Brenton Ellis (also formerly of Detroit, Lion Ride, Maximum RNR, and many other bands) on vocals, rhythm guitar, and bass, plus Pixo Control/Vol. alum Steve Edwards on lead guitar and drums. Though the band promised upon release that "Surfacing..." would be available on all major platforms "next week", it appears to be Bandcamp exclusive at press time, where you can buy it for $10 or stream it for free. While the Tentacles have played live, they have not yet signalled any possible physical release.

Song names below are linked to their Bandcamp single copies. With just three songs running for just 12½ minutes, let's begin this quick review with the opening song (and the band's first ever song release) "The Abyss"! Lyrically alluding to pollution and the decline of civilization with references to a tentacled sea monster, the four minute track features an upbeat alternative rock sound buoyed with punk-style vocals from Brent, even getting into Detroit-esque screams for emphasis, an interesting contrast with such a relatively jolly tune. The instrumental performances are solid, though Steve's guitar solo kinda meanders for too long without a lot of variance. Given the vocal style on offer, I do think that "The Abyss" would have more punch if the music underneath was heavier, but it does kinda have that seafaring ease to it, and other local bands sure aren't recording songs like this!

The 5+ minute "Sewer Sailor" is next, which also uses heavy nautical references in talking of the title sailor's lonely desolate voyage, but will the call of a siren tempt him? The first 1:40 of this song is a very meandering, almost lo-fi instrumental that kinda dragged despite fitting the whole "lost at sea" vibe, but things improve afterwards with a more expected punk rock sound, if not as aggressive as Brent's late period bands (Slumshine excepted). The song never really shifts tempo or musical style once it gets into this gear, but the vocals are effective, the percussion's at the right level, and Steve's lead melodies fit pretty well! As a pure punk song, I do prefer "Sewer Sailor" to "The Abyss" for how it meshes the lyrics and song, so genre fans will be right at home, but you can start it 1:40 in and not miss much.

"Surfacing..." closes with its shortest track "The Sea Serpent & The Rainbow", which is a full-on 3 minute pop punk song, albeit continuing the whole "sailor lost at sea" vibe, this time seeming to be about perseverance despite insurmountable odds. In terms of being an upbeat, in-your-face piece of music, the song ends the EP on a high note with a strong use of Brent's vocals, Steve's best guitar performance yet, and a tight rhythm section that just works well for genre fans. Solid closer to an EP that definitely improved as it progressed!

So, what are my final thoughts on These Magnificent Tentacles' debut EP? Overall, it's not a perfect release, and it is way too short, but it sets up Brent & Steve for bigger and better things, and you can see a lot of what made them work so well in their prior local bands! Musically, don't go into this expecting Detroit or The Pixo Control 2.0, but if you liked Brent's past work in punk-centric music like with The Labour Of..., you'll be right at home here! The guys play off each other well musically, Steve showcases guitar skill that you may not be too familiar with, and the production layers everything well enough to keep the instruments clear and distinct! The songs definitely improved for me as they went along, that instrumental intro to "Sewer Sailor" notwithstanding, and while I get the sense that the Tentacles don't want to be pigeon-holed in one genre, their punk turn on song #3 felt very natural!

Above all else, I think the EP should have been longer with more of a detailed story about seafaring adventure, as there is clearly a conceptual theme here, but 12 minutes isn't enough time to spin that yarn. For what is on offer though, fans will get some solid punk and alternative music, especially from a first release by a two man group, and hopefully we hear more from These Magnificent Tentacles as 2022 rolls along! I hope you guys liked this month's CD review, but what are we looking at in March? In all likelihood, we'll be taking a look at local industrial metal project Molten Imp's second two-sided digital single "Constable Sewage" from October of last year, as we're past our 6 month anti-bias buffer period from reviewing "Double Dose (Me)", and we're running out of time for the new one to be a "new" release. Look for it at some point next month, and stay tuned on the site this week! Thanks everyone!