ALBUM REVIEW: The Great Acceleration – Terminalist

The realms of progressive thrash metal have progressed in leaps and bounds in recent years with the likes of REVOCATION, CRYPTIC SHIFT and more recently CRYPTOSIS pushing the genre further than ever before. Hoping to make their mark are Danish four-piece TERMINALIST who are poised to release their debut full-length effort The Great Acceleration on May 7th via Indisciplinarian. Will this release catapult them into the spotlight?

Relentless Alteration gets the ball rolling with swift riffing and abrasive vocals which are soon accompanied by a surge of powerful blast beats. Waves of aggression are neatly interwoven with slick melodies to get this release off to an impressive start. Terminal Dispatch follows suit but also throws some enticing grooves into the mix. Considerable instrumentation sections allow the band to flex their muscles, as proficient leadwork assists in elevating the energy. Invention Of The Shipwreck commences with a dramatic, tense introduction that brings dark, foreboding tones into the spotlight. Gruesome vocals make their presence felt as the track begins to build momentum, chopping and changing to keep you guessing as to what thread will be unravelled next in the crazy tapestry.

Instead of trying to ram riffs down your throat at fatal velocity Estranged Reflection takes a more melodic, steady approach which brings forth a lot of intrigue, allowing the track to lure you into its grasp. The pacing does in fact start to shift upwards as it progresses, but it is used wisely as not to entirely negate the initial stages. Dromocracy adopts a similar strategy in the early going, focusing on exhibiting headbang inducing riff work. Prepare for a head on collision with an intense wave of blast beat laced fury. The instrumentation is as inviting as it is devastating, as you encounter varying waves levels of intensity.

The Great Acceleration hits the nail firmly on the head with a satisfying blend of accessibility and technical expertise that culminates in an exhilarating collection of tracks. The quartet have shown they are just as comfortable tackling tracks of considerable length as they are firing out pieces at the shorter end of the spectrum. If this is just the tip of the iceberg for TERMINALIST then they certainly have a very bright future ahead of them.

Rating: 8/10

The Great Acceleration is due for release on May 7th via Indisciplinarian.

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