For fans of Tool, who’ve been waiting patiently for the band to work out their legal woes and release a follow up to 2006’s 10,000 Days, there was a measure of solace to be found in the announcement today that drummer Danny Carey was involved in a new project featuring members of Mastodon and Off!.
Legend of the Seagullmen features Carey on drums along with Mastodon guitarist-vocalist Brent Hinds and Off! guitarist Dimitri Coats. The lineup is a bit of a dream come true for metal fans, as it unites three musicians known for their progressively heavy sounds and mind-bending riffage.
The project is the result of the work of three brothers: Frank, Chris, and David Dreyer, and this is merely the latest incarnation of what, apparently, has been a long-running theatrical event in Cocoa Beach. Not unlike bands such as GWAR or Green Jelly, there’s an entire mythos surrounding the group that grows deeper with every passing year.
Frank Dreyer explained the band’s concept in a 2011 interview with The Beachside Resident. Diving deep into the surrounding mythos, he described the project as “a true 360-media phenomenon.” Incorporating puppets, videos, costumes, and myth, Legend of the Seagullmen tells the harrowing tale of a secret society of pirates bent on keeping the source of the Seagull God’s power away from the evil Man O’ War Man (no, really). The secret is passed on to generation after generation of pirates who are sworn to battle against Man O’ War Man and his Ghost Crab Army.
Um. Yes, please.
Concept bands such as this aren’t unfamiliar turf for Carey, who was once a member of Green Jelly and played drums on their Cereal Killer album. The announcement that he was joining the band came with the release of two songs, “The Deep-Sea Diver” and “Ships Wreck.”
Both songs incorporate pirate themes pretty heavily. “Diver” is a slow, haunting jam that progresses into some serious NWOBHM-esque solos, which in turn bleed into a full on orchestral piece that’s almost reminiscent of Michael Kamen’s work on Metallica’s S&M. “Wreck” is a sludgy descent into the pits of their bizarre Seagull imagery, full of unrelenting riffs and a pirate-y keyboard for added ambience.
Both songs are available for download at the band’s website. For the moment, it does appear that the site is down, but you can stream both over at Consequence of Sound.
