Stories have often gone hand in hand with the likes of Metal, providing a multidimensional backdrop with fluctuating tempos, moving melodies and experimentation the two have fit together perfectly. Taking the idea and running with it American born Vektor have created a concept that would sit high among the Sci-Fi epic’s. Brace for impact as we delve into Terminal Redux.
[tracklist]
- Charging The Void
- Cygnus Terminal
- LCD (Liquid Crystal Disease)
- Mountains Above The Sun
- Ultimate Artificer
- Pteropticon
- Psychotropia
- Pillars of Sand
- Collapse
- Recharging The Void
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]72:00[/length]
[record_label]Earache Records[/record_label]
[release_date]May 6th 2016[/release_date]
[/details]
Beginning our journey in “Recharging The Void” we’re instantly taken leftfield. The just shy of ten minute opener sets the scene perfectly for the oncoming musical dexterity exhibited here on Terminal Redux. Moving through soundscapes effortlessly creating a dystopian milieu the band never lose the listener throughout these Homeric epics. Though despite their lofty time tags there are the five minute rippers the likes of “LCD (Liquid Crystal Disease)” which bring the classic elements known to Thrash to the fore. Making for a slightly more digestible mouthful after our longer overture. Vocally the band traverse many different plains, ranging from short sharp barks to Filthian howls. Creating a niche for unique delivery that can in a moment turn a song on its head.
“Ultimate Artificer” as the title suggests is a sight to behold, opening with furious down picking and screechy upstrokes of the high strings a la Voivod. Having their fingers in a multitude of musical pies the album will definitely appeal to those searching for perhaps a more academic listen. Often a condescending listen owing to its lofty concept arcs with the marriage of shorter tracks with the longer epic’s the band fight a war on both fronts. Which despite its obvious technical assault course owing to the production brings a sense of retro appeal, scarecely a moment of boredom on Terminal Redux, sticking with the record until it’s grand finale sees potentially their best example of musical eclecticity. “Collapse” the album’s epicenter combines all the elements previously experimented with into a cohesive and coherent track demonstrating to a beautiful and more importantly unique effect. Beautifully arranged harmonies sting through the mix giving the track colour before the grad finale, all out assault of “Recharging The Void“. Echoing drama in its tumultuous thrashing before once again taking a beautiful u- urn culminating in the most unlikely of finishes.
If at first it might seem tricky to get your head round, I implore you to persevere with this brilliant album. Working on an incredible amount of levels Vektor not only deliver their unique Sci-Fi inspired concept brilliantly but boldly go where none have gone before. As the closing section of Terminal Redux is behind us and we at long last reach the event horizon, its safe Vektor are already forging forward into worlds unknown.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]A truly fantastic and quintessentially unique listen from bursts of. Thrash to serene choruses delivering their dystopian space overture painting an organic musical pastiche that is just as enthralling as their grandiose concept.[/why]
If you like what you read / heard then you can pick up the record here!
