VEKTOR
“TERMINAL REDUX”
Album Review By Chris Palmer
9/10
Vektor are a four-piece metal band which originally came from Arizona, USA. Now based in Philadelphia, the band was founded on 1 January 2002 by frontman/guitarist David DiSanto, as he seeked to find a break from what he perceived to be mediocrity within the stagnant heavy metal landscape. Instead, he decided to create a new voice within the landscape, thus, Vektor was born.
The quartet, completed by Erik Nelson [Guitar], Frank Chin [Bass], and Blake Anderson [Drums] are influenced by Science Fiction and play a complex form of Technical/Progressive Thrash Metal.
The band have released two full length albums since formation: “Black Future” [2009] and “Outer Isolation” [2011], both on Heavy Artillery Records. However, in the aftermath of the collapse of Heavy Artillery, Vektor found a new home with heavyweights Earache Records, who subsequently re-released “Outer Isolation” in 2013.
Vektor’s third full-length, “Terminal Redux”, was released on Earache Records back in May and is the subject of this review.
Containing ten tracks and running for more than 73 minutes, “Terminal Redux” is a concept album which continues the themes that appeared in the band’s previous release, “Outer Isolation”. The lyrical themes relate to the story of a rise to power within the dominant Cygnus Regime. The story told is of a battle to control the flow of life and death, with “Terminal Redux” being the combination of science fiction and technology forging a terrible new reality.
According to David DiSanto: “The narrative follows the life of an Isolation Test Subject and his rise to power within the all-controlling Cygnus Regime … His ultimate goal is to restore balance within the galaxy by controlling the ebb and flow of life and death. After regaining his position as a top-ranking General, he incites a coup within Cygnus and takes command of their forces. However, as time passes, it becomes clear to him that power is just an illusion…”
So there you have it. Very Sci-fi influenced. But, what about the music itself …?
Upon pressing “play”, some mechanical sounds are heard as the opening section of “Charging The Void” begins. You’re then slammed against the wall by an onslaught of outstanding riffs and drums. David’s vocals enter soon after and are of the expected harsh approach, together with excellent gut-wrenching screams … A typical style associated with the genre and suiting the other instruments well. The pace of this opening number is utterly relentless, leaving you no room to breathe. My neck feels like it’ll snap at any moment as Vektor invite me to headbang furiously. The guitar-play from both David and Erik is sublime and includes some outstanding shredding solos, bringing a huge smile to my face. This is a storming opening number, which has Vektor charging out of the blocks, literally. I certainly hope that the remainder of this album is equally as good, if not better.
I’m not disappointed as “Cygnus Terminal” arrives with neat guitar-play and slow drum beats from Blake. Then at 0:44 those heavy, rhythmic riffs hit you, resulting in immediate headbanging and air-guitar shredding! The momentum builds to a crescendo before launching into another terrific rhythm after 1:29 … Brilliant stuff! David’s vocals appear soon after as this track progresses with great pace, which includes some excellent shredding guitar solos amongst the insanely heavy riffage held together by Frank’s pounding bass lines. The track ends with a flurry of guitar-play, performed at an impressive speed, and setting you up nicely for …
… “LCD [Liquid Crystal Disease]”, as the guitars launch you straight into proceedings with a barrage of excellent shredding solos. The band then settle into another contagious rhythm, with each instrument pummelling you into oblivion. I headbang furiously, the built-up aggression spilling forth, as the heavy sounds pulsate through the speakers. It’s moments like this that remind me why I love this style of music so much … The twin guitars are a joy to the ears, the rhythm section of Frank and Blake pounds through my skull like a thunderstorm, albeit at an insanely fast pace and unstoppable force.
I’m allowed a little respite as the rather short “Mountains Above The Sun” is played out with a neat instrumental performance from the guitars and bass. Towards the end of its 1:22 length those glorious riffs come in, launching me straight into “Ultimate Artificer”, along with Blake’s drums as he takes center stage for a brief moment. We’re then off again as those impressively heavy riffs and bass lines come in, swiftly followed by David’s harsh vocal attack. Vektor literally blast through this 5-minute monster with non-stop awesomeness, before bringing the first half of this album to a close.
The second half begins with an excellent serving of guitar-play, shredding solos, and pummelling riffs which settle into another outrageous rhythm. The mighty “Pteropticon” is now upon you. I have absolutely no idea what this word means! However, after a little research I discovered the following courtesy of Metal Hammer Magazine [http://teamrock.com/news/2016-05-04/vektor-new-song-pteropticon]: “Pteropticon is the name given to an elite squadron of Reapers deep in space, descending upon an unsuspecting alien world – “The prefix, Pter, means wing, and an Opticon is the inner part of the optic lobes in an insect brain,” explains frontman David DiSanto. “Put them together and you get an all-seeing force that patrols worlds from the sky. This track is a full-force, thrash attack from start to finish. We really hope you like it!” Quite frankly, David’s not wrong! “Pteropticon” is a fast-paced, thrashing monster and is full of excellent shredding guitars. This quartet blast through this one, leaving me breathless, battered, and bruised.
There’s absolutely no respite as Vektor continue their blend of Progressive Thrash Metal goodness with the excellent “Psychotropia”. With its terrific pace and a pounding rhythm section, this number blasts forward amongst a barrage of shredding guitars and harshly screamed vocals. Trust me, you’ll headbang proudly throughout this one and will continue to do so through “Pillars Of Sand”. At just 5:19 in length, this is one of the shorter tracks on the album, which will have you bouncing off the walls with its onslaught of fast and heavy riffs.
Penultimate track, “Collapse”, begins with some beautiful guitar-play, light drumming, and a clearer/calmer vocal style that includes good melody. This track is an interesting change in style and somewhat welcome addition to the previous bouts of insanity. There’s a neat guitar solo around the 3:20 mark, which sparks a change in tempo and is followed by those harsher vocals from David. You get the feeling that things are building to a crescendo, leading you towards the predicted heavy onslaught … You won’t be disappointed. As the momentum reaches the halfway point, the riffage returns together with that pounding rhythm section. The pace during the second half is truly excellent and includes those magical guitar solos. An absolutely brilliant track, showing the full abilities of this fine quartet of musicians.
Final number, “Recharging The Void”, begins with a riff to die for before being joined by the other instruments. Things build to a crescendo before launching you headfirst into one last headbanging session. Once again, the rhythm is outstanding and played to perfection at an unstoppable force. Everything that is good about this album is present throughout this huge monster of epic proportions: contagious rhythm, pummelling drums, impressive bass lines, shredding guitars, and harshly screamed vocals. As the band reach the halfway point, clean vocals containing great melody enter and are accompanied by beautiful female vocals in the background as well as neat guitar-play. This middle section allows for some respite, before those riffs re-enter and Vektor finish the album off perfectly with a fine display of their complex Technical/Progressive Thrash Metal.
After an hour and 13+ minutes, this rather long album comes to its conclusion. What an incredible listen it is too! It’s a listening experience that can’t possibly be appreciated with just one listen. Repeated listening sessions are essential if you are to truly appreciate the art that Vektor have produced with “Terminal Redux”.
This is an album that is played at an incredible pace throughout its ten tracks. The musicianship from each member is performed with consistency and confidence, all played at a highly impressive standard. It is full of everything you’d want in a metal album: insanely fast and heavy riffs, pummelling drums, pounding bass lines, and screaming vocals. Not to mention those soaring, shredding guitars … All blended together to keep things interesting and the listener hooked.
With “Terminal Redux”, Vektor have made an outstanding concept album which contains ten heavy slabs of Technical/Progressive Thrash Metal. This album is an essential addition to any self-respecting fan of Heavy Metal. Buy it now!
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
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