Band:	Tomahawk
Album:	Oddfellows
Style:	Alternative metal, Experimental rock
Release date:	January 29, 2013
A review by:	R'Vannith

01. Oddfellows
02. Stone Letter
03. I.O.U.
04. White Hats / Black Hats
05. A Thousand Eyes
06. Rise Up Dirty Waters
07. The Quiet Few
08. "I Can Almost See Them"
09. South Paw
10. Choke Neck
11. Waratorium
12. Baby Let's Play___
13. Typhoon

Mike Patton is a man with an obsession. His penchant is subjecting you to some of the most seemingly haphazard alternative metal infused rock known to man which is often completely uncomfortable yet bizarrely irresistible. It takes one hell of an album to keep up with his vocal variations and Oddfellows is an adequately assorted set of awkward miscellanea.

Tomahawk may not be as unsettling as the likes of Patton's escapades with Mr. Bungle but these fellows are no less able to craft the odd tune. And odd these fellows are in their song writing which comes across as focused on short jams in a rocking fashion. Tomahawk feel obligated to, among other things, reach out and write you a howling and heartfelt "I.O.U" with an accessible beat, gradually strangle you with the rhythmic asphyxiation of "Choke Neck" and peer at your reactions at the intrusive plucking through "A Thousand Eyes."

Stylistically it operates on a straightforward beat while throwing strange vocal and keyboard shifts around the guitars which move in and out of focus. A fair share of the tracks are uniquely tuned atmospheric numbers such "South Paw" with the near nails on chalkboard screech of guitar which moves into a hard edged desert rock urging you to "keep your clothes on." Probably a good idea.

Or there's my personal favourite "Baby Let's Play_" another thickly atmospheric piece which rolls on in like the most peculiar tumbleweed you've ever seen through a deserted street in the old west. I have no idea where I'm pulling these images from but that's just the nature of the music I suppose, does things to the head.

The great thing about an album like this is that there is likely a little oddity for every fellow, although you'll likely get the filler feeling with a few of the tracks here. This is only to be expected as the approach is wonderfully dynamic yet caters to that same laid back execution; the songs are all distinguishable but not so much that each is a treasure and before long you'll be making your own selection of tracks to re-listen and those to pass over.