Pet Jackals – Invasion Of The Cellar Spiders (Album Review)

In today’s review on Music Review World, we will encounter an act that has a very succinct way of describing themselves. Simply put, here are the ingredients to concoct this wonderful artist. First, you start off with some 90s modern rock from the Jersey Shore. Then, you add in a couple dashes of 70s garage rock. Finally, to make it presentable and unforgettable, you garnish it all off with infectious hooks and multi-layered harmonies. The final product of this delectable recipe is the band Pat Jackals, with their newest album titled ‘Invasion of the Cellar Spiders’!

Invasion of the Cellar Spiders melds the guitar-driven architecture of modern rock from the 1990s with the desperate tones of this current troubled century. Songs like ‘Warriors’ and ‘Liquid Fire’ have undeniable roots in the 1970s garage rock movement of New York, and many of the tracks tackle issues surrounding mental illness, substance abuse and emotional escapism.

Some other standout tracks include the Philip Jose Farmer-inspired ‘Visions of A Distant Land’ as well as ‘Retour Prolonged‘ with multi-layered harmonies. One guarantee that is promised by this band is that there is always a hook around the corner or a melody to wrap your brain around, leaving an impact in your psyche.

I will say, the album definitely delivers on what is promised. The album, from start to end, marks itself as a great body of work paying tribute to a distinct combination of a mixture of 1990s rock with 70s garage rock influence- the ferocity, the boldness and the distinctiveness from the former, and the warmth, experimental-ness and slight campiness (in a good way) from the latter. The tracks really do remind me of rock acts that have a niche, cult following pertaining to these aesthetic sounds and I won’t be surprised if they do gather a sincerely loyal fanbase.

It really does seem like all the segments of instrumentation within the album is tight and neatly arranged with stylistic noise, making it have a bit of crossover appeal. It’s very sharp and spunky. The only minus point is the somewhat reverb-heavy mastering within the vocals, but if you know a bit of 70s rock, this is actually quite common, fits the aesthetic and is part of the whole set-up with replicating the sound. The songs also have a strength in, weirdly enough, commercial appeal, due to how compactified and bold the songs sound. It’s giving variation where necessary, but it also contains a bit of familiarity to it.

To me, the standout tracks have to be ‘Liquid Fire’ with its slight chaotic energy and ferocity, ‘Visions of a Distant Land’ with how dynamic the chord structure goes throughout the song, and ‘Burn it All Down’ for a distinct combo of both and a riff that possesses psychedelic rock and surf rock sensibilities, with percussion that builds suspense.

All in all, this album has a strong potential to be a cult classic amongst people who have a bias for this genre. Perhaps if this artist wished to appeal to more people, a little bit more innovation and motivic variation would be necessary, but as a standalone, it presents itself very honestly and authentically in terms of its sound.

SCORE/Good : ‘Invasion of the Cellar Spiders’ is an interestingly honest body of work that definitely delivers on its influences without sounding corny or cheesy at all. It’s very well-done with a spunky and ferocious attitude to it, complimenting the theme of the music. The lyricism is decent and has potential for a small, loyal fanbase.

If you liked this, you can keep up with the Pet Jackals on Instagram!