 The music of Spiderland is noted for its angular guitar rhythms , dramatically alternating dynamic shifts and irregular time signatures . McMahan 's singing style interchanges between mumbling spoken word and strained shouting . The lyrics of Spiderland are often written in a narrative style . Influences on the record included Gang of Four , Black Sabbath and Sonic Youth . Will Hermes of Spin summarized the album 's sound as " mid- ' 70s King Crimson gone emo : screeching guitar chords and gorgeous note @-@ spinning in odd @-@ metered instrumentals speckled with words both spoken and sung " . 
