Spider – Tabula Rasa

Spider is one of those incredible bands you’ve probably never heard of, but now that you have, circle pit right on over and take a listen to the pummeling and penetrating sonic Rorschach test that is Tabula Rasa. The intensely driving steady beat and the overall tightness of buzzing power will reintroduce you to your own Tabula Rasa, your original blank slate of personality. This is where lyricist and vocalist Hector Martinez’s carefully-crafted yet ambiguous words will rearrange that gelatinous goo inside your head and will make you think you know what he means while simultaneously realizing you don’t know what anything means.

During my first listen, the combination of ferocious sound and enigmatic lyrics gave me the chills, but I really cannot explain why. I took the time to find out what a “Quonset hut” is, and deciphered that this is in reference to the iconic Cuckoo’s Nest in Costa Mesa, CA that existed in the late ‘70s until 1981, but then I also realized I was ruining this song for myself by reaching for understanding. Don’t listen to me either. Click the link right now and let Spider crawl into your mind. You’re welcome. 

Tabula Rasa is now available via streaming platforms and appears on the Death Match EP that was released in September 2023.

Live photography courtesy of Albert Licano.