ALBUM REVIEW: Termination Shock – Traveler

TRAVELER from Calgary, Alberta gatecrashed top spots on year-end lists throughout the metal spectrum with their self-titled release in February 2019. The endless cascade of riffs, dual-axe attacks, gorgeous solos and galloping rhythms, topped off by deeply personal and authentic, socially aware lyrics, hit home in a big way. Not content to rest on their laurels, the lads (plus new signing Dave Arnold on bass) began recording the next batch of smashers at the end of that same year, materialising now under the title Termination Shock.

The listener is welcomed by the same tentacled and spiky wristband-wearing monster that adorned the previous record. In addition, the exact same colour scheme has been used, thus neatly tying the concepts of both albums together. However, even in this regard Termination Shock trumps its predecessor, as significantly more detail has been achieved within a similarly minimalist framework. In a nutshell, everything that made Traveler such a good album has been tightened up, boosted, improved and packaged in an even more powerful production. Furthermore, the most unimpressive element on last year’s outing, namely JP Abboud’s serviceable but unremarkable and somewhat flat vocals, has been remedied beyond recognition. While the band’s strongest asset continues to be the interplay between dual guitarists Matt Ries and Toryin Schadlich, the entire band is firing on all cylinders here, and there is not a single weak spot to be found anywhere within these eight tracks.

Shaded Mirror kicks things off in style, and once again all instruments are given their space. With each guitar track clearly defined through the left and right channels, the bass straight away recalls early IRON MAIDEN in sound, technique and presence, rarely reduced to simply following the six strings and adding multitude of details and shadings. Chad Valier’s drums sound better than ever, with the kick drums pummelling the eardrums and propelling everything forward while the snare snaps along nicely. Meanwhile, JP wastes no time in grabbing the listener by the throat, demonstrating that he has upped his game stratospherically. Relying much more on his higher pitch this time round and reducing the deeper range to a bare minimum, with powerful falsettos dotted generously throughout, the vocals push the epic energy levels into the red on every track.

Even more incredibly, each and every track is its own personal entity. Title cut Termination Shock follows the cracking opener in very heavy fashion, with multi-tracked vocals adding screams over the tales of science fiction horrors from beyond. Progressive arrangements come into play, breaking up the full-speed assault with melodic interludes in a seamless flow. Foreverman reads like a highly emotional tribute to a fallen musical comrade, possibly a drummer, as can be gleamed from the line, “your skins ring on my friend, cuz rock n roll never dies”. Diary Of A Maiden could be interpreted as a nod to the eponymous band, particularly with its slower sections that straight away recall the more contemplative songs off the Brits’ first album.

STK is the shortest track on here at 3:40, a bona-fide speedster strategically placed within the running order to get the listener back on their feet, favourite air guitar at the ready. As slow-building, half-ballad After The Future follows, attention is drawn to the incredible amount of thought that is crammed into this album. At little over 38 minutes, this is by no means a long record, but there is so much to absorb that it feels lengthier than it is, in the best possible sense. By this point, Ries and Schadlich sound like they are having the time of their lives.

Deepspace is by far the heaviest one here, its double-bass drumming and galloping rhythm section stealing the show and reminding the listener that there is more to TRAVELER than duelling guitars and paint-stripping vocals. The speed metal assault kicks into overdrive around the 2:25 mark, marking this down as a sure-fire live favourite. Terra Exodus, at exactly the same duration as the opening track, closes the album on a positively joyful note, the major-key riffs giving way to JP’s brightest moment yet, while classic hard rock sections recall the early 80s German pioneers. As the music fades out, the listener is left with the feeling of having experienced something truly magical.

Whichever way you slice it, Termination Shock is a monumental achievement. Every single element is crafted to perfection, there is not a single dull or uninspired moment to be had and the interplay of the various features ensures that there is something here for everyone. A truly magnificent feat from TRAVELER.

Rating: 9/10

Termination Shock is set for release April 24th via Gates Of Hell Records.

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