Cenotes is the second EP by post-metal band Giant Squid. It was released on 25 October 2011 through Translation Loss Records. Released two and a half years after the band's previous release, The Ichthyologist, it continues the story of that album's protagonist.[1]

Cenotes
EP by
Released25 October 2011
RecordedJune 2011
GenreDoom metal
Post-metal
Progressive metal
Length35:05
LabelIndependent
Translation Loss Records
ProducerMatt Bayles
Giant Squid chronology
The Ichthyologist
(2009)
Cenotes
(2011)
Minoans
(2014)

According to Giant Squid's official website, "The middle eastern aesthetic that the band has embraced throughout its entire cannon[sic] consumes this new material to its core. Riff worship meets gypsy jangle and Arabesque male/female vocal harmonies, further enhancing the band's trademark, otherworldly, musical storytelling. Unarguably, Cenotes is the deepest, fastest, sludgiest, and most adventurous release from Giant Squid yet."[1]

On 16 September, Revolver Magazine's website posted the track "Figura Serpentinata".[2] On 6 October, Pitchfork Media streamed the song "Mating Scars" on its website.[3] National Public Radio's First Listen program debuted the full album on 9 October, sixteen days before the official release date.[4]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Revolver     [5]
Metal Review          [6]

Upon its release, Cenotes had received positive reviews. Zach Duvall of Metal Review described the band as "...one of the most adventurous and unique bands in music today — music, not just metal." In his review for Revolver Magazine, Jason Le Miere concluded that "...each element is impressive, but it is the way that they flow together, perfectly complementing one another into a vital, organic whole, that makes Cenotes truly remarkable," and considers the album "more accessible, more direct, and more metal than Giant Squid's powerful past works".

Track listing

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  1. "Tongue Stones (Megaptera megachasmacarcharias)" - 9:15
  2. "Mating Scars (Isurus metridium)" - 8:03
  3. "Snakehead (Channidae erectus)" - 7:47
  4. "Figura Serpentinata (Pycnopodia sapien)" - 3:51
  5. "Cenotes (Troglocambarus maclanei)" - 6:06

References

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  1. ^ a b Official blog of Giant Squid
  2. ^ Jason Le Miere (2011-09-16). "Exclusive: Giant Squid Premiere New Track, "Figura Serpentinata (Pycnopodia Sapien)" - Revolver Magazine". Revolvermag.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  3. ^ Stosuy, Brandon (2011-10-05). "Giant Squid: Mating Scars (Isurus Metridium) | Tracks". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  4. ^ Gotrich, Lars (2011-10-09). "First Listen: Giant Squid, 'Cenotes'". NPR. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  5. ^ Revolver review
  6. ^ Metal Review review Archived October 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine