Triclops!: Out of Africa

Like how the metal band Down pooled talent from Pantera, Crowbar, and Corrosion of Conformity into a singular vision, the Bay area’s Triclops! squeezes the sounds of The Fleshies, Lower Forty-Eight, Bottles & Skulls, and Victim’s Family into a mashup of abstract psychedelic punk stylings. However, unlike Down, Out of Africa surpasses expectations to be a more thoroughly satisfying and mind-bending affair than any of the all-star quartet’s respective main paychecks. The vocals here — though keeping with the socially responsible mission statement of Jello Biafra’s label — are often tweaked to alien pitches and, while the guitar and drum sounds are basically standard for modern San Francisco punk, the time signatures and bizarre changes explored on this record are on another level. “Iraqi Curator” begins with a jangly guitar and a steady building drum roll. When it kicks in with throbbing bass and wailing Steve Vai guitar virtuosity, it sounds like Jane’s Addiction jamming with Primus. Out of Africa is host to seven such jams, all of which will make you believe in a Philip Dick like unearthly telepathic consciousness.