TEMIC – Terror Management Theory
Release Date: 17th November 2023
Label: Season Of Mist
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Metal
FFO: Pain Of Salvation, Dream Theater, Haken, Leprous, Circus Maximus.
Review By: Metal Miguel
Some new progressive metal for my ears, how nice, and makes a wee change, as I don’t get a lot of prog-metal coming my way, and although I’ve been listening to that genre for many years it’s easy to lose your way and keep on top of everything hat is coming out of all metal sub-genres but getting a different selection to review is quite refreshing.
Initial thoughts were quite out there, it’s melodic enough and has all the characters for a solid progressive formula and to entertain you with excellent musicianship at all levels and departments. It’s a classic combination of guitars, rhythm, and vocals, comprising of elemental style melody that on its own is nothing, but together brings a larger-than-life metal opera of sorts, where each instrument is a character in a classic tale, and they dance around in front of you, telling the story of, in this case a “Terror Management Theory”, and it all unfolds in a delightful way. Twists, turns, chunk, melody, orchestral prowess, to name but a few terms to let you understand that this album has range and then some. There is so much to choose from on each track, like each song is a mini album of itself giving you so much to listen to, choose from and enjoy – it’s an album to kick back and chill to, but it would also make for a great travelling album – inspiring stuff.
As enjoyable as the album is, I wouldn’t be doing my job right if I didn’t find a little issue with it, and I’m hard-pressed if I’m honest. I suppose I could just say it’s perfect, but then that wouldn’t be fair to the consumer or me, I’d never sleep knowing the lie is out there, but it’s a minor report. This is, after all, an album of 10 tracks and hour worth of music that is mega to the last and for this genre, is brimmed full of awesome tunes. My only gripe is the opening track, “TMT”. The track itself isn’t what bothers me, the track is immense and starts with haunting piano, building the crescendo to a level of intense level of expectation of what is about to follow. The opening track that will deliver a pounding and epic delivery of music that will set your course for the next hour, allowing track 2 to deliver the connective tissue to your earholes and enjoyment. Well, no, it doesn’t do that, in fact it does the opposite. You’re built up emotionally to the very peak of what should be “beat-down” level of track 2 introduction, only to be given a kind of wedding band style entry, then the track itself disappears into a slow and almost ballad like slope and for me took all the wind out my sails. I know it’s a personal preference and many may disagree with this, but this is a hill I will die on – if track one builds, then track two has to continue the flight.
Production, songs, ability, likeability, and general listening prowess are all good, and you should give it a listen, you won’t be disappointed. A solid progressive album of a metal and rock variety.
(4 / 5)
