TERAMAZE - ANHEDONIA

Something is brewing in Australia and its name is Teramaze and courtesy of Nightmare Records they have delivered a long awaited follow-up to their nearly forgotten releases of 1995 & 1997. A long and tumultuous journey it has been, but here is AnhedoniA. Part progressive; part thrash; part melodic; all heavy metal.

As I’ve been spinning this disc my thoughts have been how to describe it. The band themselves say they’ve been influenced by artists such as Dream Theater, Tool and Pantera; taken directly from their website. At times you’ll Dimebags rhythmic influence or the vocal inflection of Sebastian Bach. A few of those influences can be heard undoubtedly, but by no means expect to hear simple adulation to those bands.

With a crisp and tight guitar sound that is simply relentless and precise without being lost in a wash of noise Dean Wells guitar playing is the scalpel that pierces the heart. The combination with Matthew Dawson have provided riffs and solos that really are world class, which rest right across the drumming of the late Julian Percy and bass playing of Tijon Lolis. This solid foundation provides a base on which vocalist Brett Rerekura soars atop with smooth tones and powerful projection.

The songs are an amalgam of technical proficiency and heavy metal bombast. The melodies offered by Rerekura tie the tracks together, while adding an almost hypnotic atmosphere to the songs. Soaring with Acts of Reparation, plowing along through AnhedoniA or driving through Black Circles, these songs grab a hold and force you to simply engage. Where the Dead Grow offers another blending of power and subtlety, the melody is almost creamy.

Strong production elements offer crisp guitars, tight drums, rolling bass and soaring vocals. A world class production is placed high on the altar for your musical enjoyment. A lyric sheet would’ve been helpful to this reviewer, but alas I guess PR departments can’t think of everything. One particular item of note is that the CD release has a bonus track entitled Ever Enhancing II. Mysterious and hypnotic, it would be a crime to simply say this is just an acoustic song (which it is) but the added elements of strings and the arrangement is haunting.

AnhedoniA is an absolutely killer melodic progressive metal release. Heavy in its onslaught but full of subtlety, Teramaze have given us a brilliant metal release for 2012. Thank you Nightmare Records! Let’s hope it won’t take this long for a follow up. Big thumbs up from here!

9 axes