VEKTOR — Terminal Redux (review)

Album · 2016 · Technical Thrash Metal

4/5 · 2016-05-21
Nightfly

Vektor’s first two albums, Black Future and Outer Isolation were amongst the best thrash metal albums I’ve heard this century. Fast, incredibly intricate and precise but most importantly songs with captivating riffs that totally blew me away. Kind of a more technical Voivod backed up by the sci-fi nature of their covers and song titles bringing to mind classic thrash albums like Killing Technology and Dimension Hatross.

Album number three, Terminal Redux has been a bit of a slow burner. On the face of it nothing has changed. The songs are still incredibly intricate and precise but something was missing. A few plays have revealed some brilliant music but the first two tracks, Charging The Void and Cygnus Terminal, so important on album as a statement of intent were still leaving me underwhelmed. All the Vektor trademark ingredients were present and correct but they were still failing to get under my skin. Fortunately things greatly improved and more than make up for any shortcomings at the start of the album. From LCD the band launch into an upward spiral of excellence, each subsequent song seemingly better than the one before with side three of my vinyl copy from Ultimate Artificer to Psychotropia being a particular high full of ferocious riffing that’ll rip your head off. Charging The Void also finally clicked as I suspected it might, Vektor weren’t going to open with a low point were they, revealing a track that has much to offer with perseverance.

Collapse sees a respite from the full throttle thrash with vocalist/guitarist David DiSanto replacing his trademark high pitched snarl and almost singing. Some tastefully clean guitar arpeggios and chords add some welcome dynamics as well as some melody. At over nine minutes it clearly wasn’t going to remain so but still retains a sense of melody and restraint throughout. If you’re going to stick a thirteen minute plus track on your album it had better be damn well good. Fortunately Reaching The Void closes things in fine style and a summation of all that is great about Vektor, never losing its way and a myriad of changes, plenty of melody and dynamics mark it as another highpoint.

Much of Terminal Redux is as good as and sometimes better than anything Vektor have ever done. It’s a grower for sure and any initial reservations I had were dispelled though it took a few plays. Not sure if it’s my favourite Vektor album yet but it’s another excellent addition to their small but impressive discography.

more than 2 years ago
Permalink
Report #321223

Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer

Please login to post a shout

voila_la_scorie wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I've got it on stand by in my Amazon cart simply for the cover art! But I was actually thinking to get Outer Isolation when it first came out and I still haven't. I'll have to listen to samples and compare the two.

666sharon666 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I'm intrigued by the hype over this, but I could never get into their last album all that much so haven't exactly been rushing to listen to this one.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

After two listens i'm liking it but not blown away. It has been overhyped but it's a really good album nontheless. I'm not disappointed. Maybe it is a grower. It's really taken off on RYM.

Nightfly wrote:

more than 2 years ago

No doubt about it, you have to persevere with it. took quite a few plays before it hit home.

DippoMagoo wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I would say Terminal Redux is by far the most challenging thrash album I've ever heard: Even on the pure thrashers they have some very complex arrangements even compared to what they did on Black Future and Outer Isolation, and then you have the last two tracks which are most unique songs I've ever heard on a thrash album. So overall, the album is not easy to get into right away, but now that I've had enough time for it to fully click I love it just as much as their first two.

adg211288 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I've not long been discovering Vektor but this one left me underwhelmed at first as well, whereas I was able to get into their other two on first listen. This seems to be being hyped as the metal album as the decade already, so I guess I somehow I expected more. It's grown on me after three listens and I think it still has room for me to like it more, but I do think I prefer both Black Future and Outer Isolation for the moment.