There is a time for any progressive metal band to make a conceptual album. Regardless of what flavor of progressiveness any musical act takes, the inevitable idea of working on a solid concept and developing in the length of ten to twelve songs it has to happen. It comes as some milestone for any band that calls themselves progressive to use their music to create a chapter for a more complex narrative than a non-conceptual album counterpart. This time is Vektor brings their first effort on the matter in the name of ‘Terminal Redux’, which will be released on May 6th, 2016 via Earache Records. The artwork and the tracking list can be seen below.
Sometime along the way of its inception, Vektor, whose primary drive is the mix between the speed and rawness of thrash metal with the unexpected development created in the progressive nature; decided to give it a try to a conceptual album to explore their creative process and expand their narrative. After the release of ‘Black Future’ and their sophomore album ‘Outer Solution’ where the band dealt with lyrics regarding science fiction accompanied by the speedy rumble drum rhythm. Without a very distinctive concept behind them, Vektor explored what they could bring that way. After all this time, and following the footsteps of Rush and Voivod, Vektor decided to give it a go in their third album.
[blockquote cite=”David DiSanto”]The story begins with a lone astronaut regaining his memories after being sentenced to an isolation testing program. Near the point of death in his damaged spacecraft, he finds a life-rejuvenating molecule within a stellar nebula that will change the course of his fate and many others. He brings a large haul of his newly discovered prize to the Cygnus regime, a vast galactic empire, in hopes of regaining his status as a high-ranking general. Years of isolation have turned him into a power-hungry tyrant that will stop at nothing to usurp the people who banished him. Through terror tactics and brute force, he incites a coup within Cygnus and gains control. Using the life-rejuvenating molecules from the stellar nebula, he grants the people under his rule extended life. His goal is to achieve perfect, cosmic harmony within his domain and bring balance to the war-torn planets: something that no intelligent life-form has ever been able to accomplish.[/blockquote]
Release
- Charging the Void
- Cygnus Terminal
- LCD (Liquid Crystal Disease)
- Mountains Above The Sun
- Ultimate Artificer
- Pteropticon
- Psychotropia
- Pillars of Sand
- Collapse
- Recharging the Void
As part of the teasing for what people may encounter in this album, Vektor released the first single from the album, ‘Ultimate Artificer’ where the progressive part of the band is easily identified through the tempo changes in the riffs, the thrash is represented by a solid drum base, and the combination of growling and high pitch vocals that are more used in black metal. Obviously, the art of the album has to go along with the concept of the album, so Vektor recruited artist Adam Burke, who depicted the idea of the album in one single scene in outer space which you can see below. If it is a real teaser for you, then you will be pleased to hear what the rest of the album has in stored for your listening pleasure. ‘Terminal Redux’ was recorded in two places, the Panther Pro-Audio and the band’s home studio, with the assistance of Byron Filson at the Villain Studios in Arizona. The sound is also accompanied by a Philadelphia soul chorus which certainly will give some atmosphere to the whole album.
