Fucked Up formed in
Toronto in the early 2000s and slowly became one of the most unusual names to
grow out of hardcore punk. Over the years, the band expanded its sound, themes,
and scale, most notably through the long running Zodiac
album cycle, a project that has followed them for nearly two decades and
turned their catalog into one continuous narrative experiment.
Nearly twenty years
after the Zodiac series began, Fucked Up open its final chapter with “Year Of The
Goat”, the first part of the larger Grass Can Move
Stones project. This release sets the foundation for a story that will
unfold across three albums, drawing from mythology, philosophy, and the band’s
own history. The narrative centers on Monkey and
Good Goat, two figures whose journey mirrors
personal growth, doubt, and belief, while also reflecting the long and
complicated path of the band itself.
Vocally, the album
relies heavily on character driven performances. Damian
Abraham and Tuka Mohammed guide the
narrative as Monkey and Good Goat, with guest appearances adding extra
layers to the cast. These voices help shape the emotional direction of the
album, shifting between reflection, tension, and moments of quiet resolve. The
large number of contributors never distracts from the main arc of the story,
instead reinforcing the sense of a shared world.
As the opening chapter
of Grass Can Move Stones, “Year Of The Goat”
functions as groundwork rather than climax. It introduces themes, characters,
and ideas that are clearly designed to grow across the next installments. On
its own, the album is ambitious, demanding, and carefully constructed, though its
full impact will likely be clearer once the complete trilogy is available.
Taken at face value, it stands as a serious and thoughtful addition to the Zodiac cycle, one that values narrative depth over
immediacy.
Score: 7.0
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