Arkata Impeding Your Chances For Success

"Its not a big deal unless you make it a big deal, chastises George Clooneys gun-toting psycho Seth in From Dusk Till Dawn, and Arkatas attribute many are going make a big deal out of is that they have a female vocalist. However, unless youre seeing this T-dot five-piece live, you wouldnt notice, since Jill is one of the evilest-sounding vocal shredders going, irrevocably scarring her chords during Arkatas six-song self-titled independent debut. And while people will emphasis her harshness and the fact that shes a woman in a predominantly male genre, this shouldnt overshadow Arkatas music. While possessing a difficult sound to pin down (but one that is frustratingly familiar), other than the incredibly blackened vocals, Arkata are reminiscent of an avant melding of semi-progressive metal and hardcore influences, fleetingly recalling some of the "artier NYC metalcore acts of yesteryear while throwing in a fare bit of "modern complexity in songs that gradually reveal themselves. A malevolent, sometimes clinical and foreboding atmosphere, with the occasional emo-ish moment of melodicism (not unlike a more metallic Anasarca), colours this record and Arkata mix in spots of intricacy without losing the thread. Nice DIY packaging and better than average "independent production also raise Arkatas profile, and an eye should be kept on them, as they could grow the ranks of Ontarios recently signed. (Independent)