ALBUM REVIEW: Holocene Extinction – Terminal Nation

It is often said that the best music is written in times of political and social unrest. And well, if that’s the case, then 2020 is proving to be a year with ample opportunities for bands to channel their rage towards humanities’ many worrying and explosive incidents. A global pandemic, systemic racism, police brutality, environmental fragility and disdain towards a system that constantly kneels on the neck of the oppressed; it feels like Western society, particularly that in the US, is balanced on a knife edge and one strike of the match is all that it takes. Holocene Extinction, the debut full-length offering from TERMINAL NATION, holds up to a mirror to the aforementioned troubles facing the US and the result is one explosive outpouring of anger and musical exhilaration.

Through a mix of death metal, hardcore and power-violence, TERMINAL NATION display an abundance of uncontrollable rage across Holocene Extinction. Across the record’s thirteen snappy tracks, the band’s potency for fury is unleashed to the highest calibre and opening number Cognitive Dissonance is a fine statement of intent. Crushing riffs, guttural vocal blasts and unadulterated rage combine to show exactly what the band are all about. Phase one complete.

After such a confident and defiant opening, TERMINAL NATION keep on swinging and the results are outstandingly good. Arsenic Earth boasts gargantuan riffs that pack enough power to level a building, the title track, Holocene Extinction is an utter rager and the line “you can not save a world, that refuses to be saved” is not only a phenomenal mosh call but it embodies the sheer disdain TERMINAL NATION have for life as we know it. Even in the album’s latter stage, the band keep on swinging, refusing to let their momentum falter, even just for a second. Expired Utopia‘s subtle splash of haunting atmospherics works wonders against the colossal doom-esque riffs and serves as a wonderful instrumental mood-builder across its near four and a half minute runtime, and the way in which it flows into pit-starter Death For Profit is just fantastic.

And then there’s Age of Turmoil. The final song on the record, TERMINAL NATION offer up one last bout of aural fury and the momentum never dips. You’re broken and bloodied, but upon Holocene Extinction‘s closure, you’ll definitely have a smile on your face. It’s cohesive, calculated and a highly impressive statement of intent from TERMINAL NATION.

What’s more impressive about Holocene Extinction however, is the way in which TERMINAL NATION play and experiment with the pacing to keep you on your toes. As a complete body of work, Holocene Extinction is heavy as hell, but it isn’t just one blistering assault that leaves you floored. Master Plan is a mid-tempo monster that crawls along with its sludge-driven riffs whilst Revenge turns things on its head with the band hurtling out of the gates at breakneck speed right from the off. This clever use of pace and willingness to let the album breathe makes it all the more better.

Holocene Extinction holds a mirror to the world and the reflection is grim, making it the perfect lyrical landscape for TERMINAL NATION to unleash their rage. Unshackled, raw and brimming with power, the band’s debut outing is a confident opening statement of intent and whilst the world in which we know is imploding, the one positive is that this is just the beginning for TERMINAL NATION. Strap yourself in.

Rating: 8/10

Holocene Extinction is set for release on August 7th via 20 Buck Spin.

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