TERAMAZE — Esoteric Symbolism (review)

TERAMAZE — Esoteric Symbolism album cover

Album · 2014 · Progressive Metal

4/5 · 2014-05-02
Time Signature

Spawn...

Genre: progressive metal

The first Teramaze-album I heard was 2012's "Anhedonia". That album was marketed as a progressive metal album, which puzzled me, because it did not strike me as being progressive at all. Rather, it was more of a melodic power-thrash album. With their latest album "Esoteric Symbolism" also being classified as a progressive metal album, I was naturally curious to see how "progressive" this album actually is.

Well, "Esoteric Symbolism" is an all out progressive metal album. While there are still elements of thrash metal, such as the slightly Voivod-esque riffs in 'Parallels - Dual Reality' and the power metallic larger-than-life vocal melodies in 'Punishment by Design', this album is full of syncopated rhythms, layered guitar melodies, jazz-rock inspired guitar solos, and dynamic song structures. There are several enjoyable tracks on the album, in particular the melodic, but challenging, 'Transhumanist' and 'Bodies of Betrayal' as well as 'Parallels - Dual Realities' with its thrashy aggression and nicely convoluted song structure.

The production may be a bit tinny, but this does not disturb the listening experience at all; in fact, the slightly rough sound fits the more hard-edged parts extremely well. Teramaze's songwriting skills can only be commended, and the musicianship is admirable and awe-inspiring.

With its combination of hard-edged riffs and melodic delicacy, Teramaze's "Esoteric Symbolism" is recommended to any fan of modern progressive metal.

more than 2 years ago
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adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Teramaze I think could have become a favourite but although this album is good it can't really be called a thrash album overall, and that disappointed me as I don't feel they they stand out so much with this one. The sound still has their own mark on it but they're basically on the same page as a host of other modern prog metal acts now, lots of them on Nightmare Records same as them.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

One of them. It's been a gradually thing over the last couple of years. I've always enjoyed classic Metallica and some Megadeth and Sepultura but in the last year or so I've got more and more into it and I've even rated a couple of thrash albums (Dawn of the End by Hatchet and Victim of Yourself by Nervosa) quite highly that before I probably wouldn't have given the time of day. I think the real turning point album was Origin of Extinction by Mortillery though. I found that album quite addictive and would definitely say that both they and Nervosa have become favourites from the genre for me, although with Paradox.

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Was that the album that made you more interested in thrash metal?

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I actually prefer Anhedonia to this one.

Time Signature wrote:

more than 2 years ago

"Anhedonia" is not bad, but calling it a progressive metal album is stretching it, I think.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I think that Anhedonia had a few proggy elements but I generally agree, it wasn't a prog metal album. We seem to be a minority in that opinion though, it took quite a bit of effort on my part to get the team to agree to move it to thrash.