So there are death metal bands and then there is Gigan… In a category all their own, from a galaxy unknown to man and from the brain of mainman Eric Hersemann. I guess if you want some kind of direction with their style, think: Ulcerate, Voivod, Artificial Brain, Gorguts, Doctor Who, Cerebral chaos, Sci-Fi, Space atmospheric brilliant brutality. How is that? I will get the negative out of the way first. As with certain bands I hold near and dear to me, maybe it’s due to the band’s obscure nature or maybe due to the fact, as Mr. Hersemann are friends, I am perpetually disappointed at the human race that Gigan are not more well-known and more popular than they are. Now I know Gigan was not formed to become popular, but they are indeed, for me, one of the most impressive and special bands out there. So my negativity is actually not towards the band, but towards fans of the underground who claim to be supporters of the scene.

Formed in 2006, Gigan first put out the long out of print ep, which I’ve been telling Eric to remaster on cd, Footsteps of Gigan, back in 2007. 2008 was the debut album, The Order of the False Eye, followed up by the 2011 brilliant Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes and then in 2013, Multi-Dimensional Fractal-Sorcery and Super Science, which was outstanding. That album saw the band take Artificial Brain and Pyrrhon out on tour and I had a blast hanging with all the bands and Eric and I finally meeting. Gigan has also gone through singers, faster than I go through underwear on a 90 degree day. So enter in Jerry Kavouriaris taking on the vocals this time around. whether he is here for the Gigan long haul is yet to be seen, but he needs to be. While his vocals are similar to former Gigan singers, he has an extra bit of hate in his vocals-which of course I love. So here is yet another drinking game, tongue twister of an album name, Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence and the album is pure madness.

Opening with excessively long songs can be difficult, but Gigan pull it off with the 10 minute “Wade Forward Through Matter and Backwards Through Time”. Eric’s iridescent, moody, atmospheric, guitar opening seems to be seeping through the cosmos with Nate Cotton’s drums getting progressively heavier and harder until the 1.50 drum rolls come through and into a raging space vortex grind blast. Getting into the gravity blast range the 2.45 part marks Jerry coming through your speakers ready to devour your brain. More space grind blasts and hate-filled deep and powerful vocals and Eric’s guitar and melodies at the 3.45 signature time change blasting parts are beyond epic and original. The tune goes back and forth with this style, gets atmospheric and blasts towards the end, pretty much leaving every single house on your block a molten pile of magma. I really don’t want to review anymore, because I am taking up your time from buying the album…but I will go into another track, I mean for real, every single track is spell-blinding, madness, musical greatness. Let’s get into the crazy, jazzy, poly-rhythms, opener of “Hyperjump-Ritual Madness”. The opening is pure chaos with the blasting, off-kilter time changes and wild guitar melodies and soloing. Lots of atmosphere dripping from this sucker, right here. Excellent guitar work at the 4.08 part and some terrific double bass and audible bass guitar, which Eric also plays on the album. Super wild, frenzied guitar melodies, which are ethereal, heavy and the drums just pounding you into oblivion. The entire album is extraordinary and no one sounds like Gigan.

The production of Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence is spectacular and perfect for their style. Everything is audible and with Eric’s guitar technique, sound and heaviness all the riffs are audible, but also complicated. Gigan are, and I’ve said this in past reviews, way ahead of their time and it’s like they can see the future. I know it’s all in Eric’s brain, his brain must operate at warp speed. So creative and forward-thinking, which is how you further advance the death metal scene. Gigan have always focused on putting together extraordinary album covers and look no further than this bombastic cover. First of all green has always been my favorite color, so you know I love this beyond belief. I am in awe of the cover…it goes perfectly with the soundscape of Gigan. Gigan are in a class all their own. You cannot replicate such maddening and original music. How Eric makes this shit so catchy, is beyond me.

Undulating Waves of Rainbiotic Iridescence is a death metal achievement, for the music industry. Go and like their FB page, go to Willowtip and buy the recorded format of your choice and pick up a Gigan shirt. When they come into town, go see them live and buy some merch. Yes, get up off your ass, order this and Gigan’s entire back catalog, now. Truly a remarkable album for 2017. Buy or Die from Gigan’s scorching eye laser beam!

[Visit the band's website]

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