Exotic Animal Petting Zoo “Tree of Tongues” review
Exotic Animal Petting Zoo
Stephen Carr
Brandon Carr
Scott Certa
Jeffery Zampillo
review by Denise Borders
@punkworldviews
Despite the fact these dudes have been a band since 2008, this is the first Exotic Animal Petting Zoo album I’ve heard. Reading up on them, it seems like they’ve pummeled through a lot of hardships as a band and worked really hard on their sophomore album, Tree of Tongues. I try not to judge a band by what label they’re on or their name, etc… because there will always be those few bands that surprise you. You can typically generalize a band’s sound by something like, “Oh they’re really Rise Records sounding.” But PMtoday is on Rise and they sound nothing like any of the other bands. EAPZ seems to be in the same boat as far as I can see. Stacked against the majority of Mediaskare Records bands, they have a unique sound that isn’t your typical metal or hardcore band, but instead experimental and sort of… trippy. Let’s start this fuckin review.
Available May 8, 2012
Track List:
Thorough.Modern
Pharmakokinetic
Thorough
Through The Thicket…Across Endless Mountains
You Make Wonderful Pictures
Apis Bull
M.U.M.B
The Great Explainer
Kaspar Hauser Could See The Stars In The Daytime
Gypsy Among The Pines
Whore Of Babel
Arcology
Thorough.Modern is a strong album opener. It sounds sort of metal-ish at first, but as they begin it’s a little thrashy mixed with experimental, making for an interesting track. Immediately these dudes reminded me of Orbs, a band featuring Dan Briggs of Between the Buried and Me, along with other recognizable metal scene members. The likeness of Adam’s voice (Orbs) and Stephen’s from EAPZ is really obvious, but Stephen seems to have a more distinct clean vocal sound, and he sounds really smooth. The vocals were the first thing to stand out to me thus far.
Pharmakokinetic is up next. I am not huge on the way this track starts… I was all stoked on the vocals before and this one starts and I’m like mehhhh, but it creeps up on you, after the intro I became more okay with it, ya just gotta give it about 45 seconds. There’s something creeptastic about the “oooOooOOooOOOh” behind the screaming, “Push me aside, push me aside!” that I am definitely into. I really like the fact that this track sounds completely different than the previous one, it makes me eager to check out the rest of the album. Strategic!!
The next title, You Make Wonderful Pictures, is intriguing. I love the intro, the yelling, the drums, the lyrics… YES. “GO ON, USE ME,” is like… oh yeah baby, I’ll use you alright. *whip noise* At this point, I feel like these guys would put on a really good live show. Something about these songs; they haunting. They build you up and break you down and definitely show the musical talent behind this foursome. Around 2:33, it’s very Between the Buried and Me-esque, and I don’t mean that in a rip-off way, just like… if you’re a fan of BTBAM, these dudes are right up your alley to rear end you in the ass!
Through The Thicket…Across Endless Mountains is not only a long ass title, but it’s the second longest track on the record at over five and a half minutes long. It’s a soothing track with a lot of slow parts that sound like they’d be used in an acid-trip movie montage. These aren’t my faaaavorite types of tunes to listen to, but I don’t hate it or anything. I just like the more thrasy, screaming songs from the album so far. I like the lyrics for sure, it’s just a little slow for my usual taste.
Do me a favor and just skip M.U.M.B., it’s just two and a half minutes of sounds and creepy whispering.
Apis Bull starts off fucking rad and keeps on kicking. You’ve still got a nice vocal mix of screaming to mellow to like… talking screaming, ya know, SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. EAPZ can really jam, and the deeper I dive into this record, the more I’m respecting them as musicians and wondering why it’s only their second album in four years. I don’t know what the hell Apis Bull means, but it sounds creepy and seems to suit this track well.
The Great Explainer starts off with some great tricky guitar. I mean, I don’t play guitar so I don’t actually know what is necessarily tricky and what isn’t, BUT… it sure sounds hard to play! The beginning vocals actually remind me of La Dispute, despite the fact that nothing else about it sounds like them. I keep seeing other reviews relate them to Dillinger Escape Plan, who I totally love, and I know the band lists them as an influence, but I honestly can’t relate the two that much. Dillinger has such intensely different vocals. I mean, they sing in similar styles in that they both vary from screaming to singing and both can wail on a mic, but Greg sound very different and even the actual music doesn’t sound that similar to me. DEP is all over the place, chaotic most of the time. EAPZ is a lot smoother, more melodic in tune. But whatevs.
Kaspar Hauser Could See The Stars In The Daytime is like don’t hold your breath when saying these song titles IF YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN. This is a mellow track but I’m definitely into it. They build you up into a heartfelt chorus and Brandon Boyd-esque high pitched whisper-singing. Are you guys into these stupid descriptions I’m using or not? You should me know. Or not, I don’t care.
Gypsy Among The Pines is the first song that makes me think of the Deftones for some reason. The low vocals in the beginning remind me of Chino and everyone can yell at me for saying that if they want, I DON’T CARE. The whisper-singing continues for longer than I’d like, but I am a girl that likes the yelling and shit. WHAT CAN YA DO? Actually, the whisper-singing never stops… it’s the entire song. I kept waiting for it to break and get all screamy and shit, but it doesn’t! 🙁
However, the transition into Whore Of Babel is awesommmmmme. This might be the first time I can really see the DEP relation because the intro is the most chaotic and all over the place compared to all the other tracks. This song in particular makes me want to see them live. I can’t imagine watching this track played live being anything but intense and awesome. These lyrics also rule from what I can hear. It’s another track that really exudes talent all around. Good job! I’m clapping for you (in my mind)!
Arcology finishes this album off and wins the title of the longest song. Congrats, you get NOTHING! As you roll into the track, it seems like another mellow one. I kept waiting and waiting for it to intensify but it just didn’t. It’s not good for my anxiety you bastards! I have to save my Vicodin for when I have my laser tattoo removal sessions, damnit!!!! This isn’t a song that I would want them to play live, but I’m sure they would because bands often like to torture me by playing ALL the songs that I want to hear live the least. This could actually be my least favorite song on the entire album. BUT WAIT! Three and a half minutes in this shit finally picks up and as “I WILL SUFFER NO MORE” comes screeching through the speakers, I’m like YEAH I’M NOT SUFFERING THROUGH A JAM BAND SOUNDING MELLOW STREAK ANYMORE! Sorry, y’all. I hate jam bands!
I didn’t know who Exotic Animal Petting Zoo was before receiving this record for review, but this is another reason I LOVE doing this. I’ve now discovered a new band that I will keep on my radar because even if they aren’t doing my typical musical feast, they are at least doing something more unique than most which peaks my interest enough to pay attention to them. Damn I think that was a run on sentence.
BYE.
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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