ALBUM REVIEW: Are We Soldiers – Teramaze

It’s been four years since TERAMAZE released their album, Her Halo. Finally, the Australian prog rockers bring their next record Are We Soldiers. With a track record of creating interesting and dynamic songs in their previous releases, will the band be able to keep their sustained level of high quality music?

Fight or Flight begins rather beautifully on keys, accompanied by TERAMAZE’s trademark guitar sound. The melody is pretty pleasant and the riff ties itself into the smart tech metal side of the band’s music. surprisingly, it’s not so progressive at this stage to completely blow you away, but stays mellow and fun. Finishing where it began on the keys, it’s haunting ending is satisfying.

Title track Are We Soldiers takes things in an ever more synth direction, dirtied down with punchy guitars and sharp drums. Again, everything is very easy to get on board with here; vocally Brett Rerekura and Dean Wells harmony up very well, creating a decent lyrical impact that’s poppy enough to sing along with. Its quieter moments are just as pleasant, with enough time dedicated to a much slower paced guitar solo that emanates some nice emotional touches that really squeezes in some impressive playing. So far, nothing seems to be done to any extreme, just solid playing all round. By the songs end, we get a taste of some more extreme edges, just enough to tempt you in for the next instalment, Control Conquer Collide.

Tempo and drive shift up a gear comfortably by Control Conquer Collide, not by a huge margin as it still retains a certain cool demeanour over the ticking double bass. The synth itself adds a nice melody, and the change in key and tempo throughout is interesting, with a slight nod to DREAM THEATRE, while an almost Mediterranean influence flicker in and out. It’s nice to hear TERAMAZE playing around with their creativity still. From Saviour to Assassin takes a turn in a more pop punk direction in its feel, with some boppy beats, would-be aggressive chugging, and passionate soaring vocals.

Orwellian Times gets back on board with its more chip tune, synth feelings, and these overlays of guitars and programming are honestly where TERAMAZE seem to shine on this album. The guitars loosen up, bringing in squealing bends and smart licks and melodies while the rhythm carries the ever-changing feel of the track. The vocals also add a warmer musical quality, with plenty of harmonies and dual melodies playing off each other. With the root idea of the track taking hold, the more whacky and insane movements take on more meaning and potency. As the progressive side of the band seems to have won the middle section of the album, Monsters demonstrates from the other side of Orwellian Times just what a diverse and expansive genre it is. While Orwellian Times was a composition that felt embedded in classical training and arrangements, Monsters has a distinct modern progressive sound and expression. It’s fun and mind melding in places, and while it’s a totally different beast to its predecessor, they’re two sides of the same coin.

It’s clear that while the earlier tracks are decent in in their own way, the real heart of TERMAZE hits by around song five, where a genuine passion and heart seems to reside. Weight of Humanity takes on the tasty progressive licks and technically challenging movements, all while keeping things accessible and catchy. There’s a beautiful moment of haunting guitar and keys that lulls you into safety, soothing vocals and singing guitars taking their time before launching back into the hook.

Fact Resistant Human and The One Percent Disarm are hugely prominent for their lyrical content if nothing else. Thankfully, the dramatic, bristling melodies and disillusioned feel are just as relevant in their sound as the subject matter they deal with. Again, rooting more in a classically orientated synth and keys, while layering in the distorted disjoint of the guitars and rhythm and popular vocals that are plenty easy to sing along with.

Depopulate takes the final bow for the record with complete style and class. It’s good fun, with a constantly shifting groove, before taking a turn towards the more sombre side of their sound. With almost twelve minutes to play with, it allows itself enough time to disperse its energy throughout, breakdowns aplenty and just as many build ups to counter. It might be a little too much for some listeners, but those who revel in drawn out prog will appreciate.

A slow burn, Are We Soldiers takes some time to ease into itself, before finding its feat in the latter two thirds of the record. Here is where the fun begins; poignant lyrics, and a healthy mix between classical and popular sounds to ease over a generally solid progressive metal sound. Dramatic and tasteful, it’s a fair output for TERAMAZE, who are still evidently capable of keeping things interesting.

Rating: 7/10

Are We Soldiers is out on June 21st via Mascot Label Group.

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