Review TIKTAALIKA “Gods of Pangaea”

Tiktaalika is the name of Charlie Griffiths’ solo project. It was in 2022 when the Haken guitarist released the self-titled debut, which surprised with its heavy sound and thrash metal approach. Unlike what we are used to from the musical mothership, Griffiths released a stunning metal album. The new longplayer “Gods of Pangaea” picks up where Griffiths left off with the debut.

The sophomore release is another thrash metal based longplayer that kicks off with a furious opener. “Tyrannicide” wakes everyone up with a massive blast before the song exudes an 80’s metal spirit. Like their debut, the new album features a variety of vocalists. Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried And Me), Danïel De Jongh (Textures) and Vladimir Lalić (Organized Chaos) are on board again, and Rody Walker joins them. De Jongh is the one who delivers the aggressive shouts on “Tyrannicide”, but also shows the versatility of his voice on the title track.

“Gods of Pangaea” is a more progressive fueled song that still finds its inspiration in the hey days of heavy metal. Moderately paced and equipped with some layers and twists, the song spreads a certain Megadeth flair. There are the heavy riff blasts as well as a softer middle section that leads to another blistering solo part.

While working on the album, Griffiths set the basic direction for this studio effort. This time the album doesn’t follow a lyrical concept, but the guitarist had a clear musical flow in mind when working on the songs. The intention was to start with a blast, which is successfully accomplished, and the eight-minute title track is in place by design.

Even slower than the title track is “The Forbidden Zone”. The latter is a roaring metal tune that slowly creeps into your subconscious. It is the first song with Vladimir Lalić at the microphone and his sometimes hoarse singing gives the song an evil touch. After such a roaring metal track, it is “Mesozoic Mantras” that shows another facet of Tiktaalika’s music. Calm and melodic, that’s the best way to describe the song. Amazing that Lalić has the full vocal range to deliver the vocals on the mighty “The Forbidden Zone” as well as the emotionally impactful “Mesozoic Mantras”.

“Fault Lines”, featuring Rody Walker, is a thrash metal anthem reminiscent of Annihilator‘s great albums, followed by “Give Up the Ghost”, which takes some inspiration from Megadeth.

“Lost Continent” is the last track on the album (the CD contains a bonus track called “Chicxulub”) and has a running time of nine minutes. It is another layered thrash metal epos with an “obey-the-riff” approach, but also includes some clean sections. The general vibe of the song, however, is rooted in powerful thrash metal with twists and turns that create the thrill.

Tiktaalika’s second studio effort is a thrash metal album with a lot of twists and attention to detail. Griffith’s progressive mindset and his passion for furious metal create a musical wrecking ball that allows you to headbang while at the same time exploring twists and details that reveal themselves over time. Great album.