Terraform have been working on making a name for themselves in the flooded UK tech metal scene for a while now and with this, their new EP, they’re ready to make a much bigger step into big band territory. Self releasing the EP, the Birmingham 5 piece have been touring for a while playing big festivals such as Hevy and Tech Fest as well as heading out on tour with bands such as Soilwork and Heart Of A Coward. But are they ready to match the bands at the top of the genre or is this EP destined to fail?
The answer is evident straight away on intro track Breach, where they show of the new sound they have created even if it is only a slight taste before everything kicks off on first full track Atonement. This track shows of the new and more focused version of their previous music with the tech metal onslaught still being available in the instrumentation but the vocals are much cleaner, giving the band a much more accessible edge. The heavy vocals aren’t totally replaced however but they are totally toned down but giving the talent of vocalist Mitch Richards, they definitely made the right decision here.
This is none more evident than on the following track Imagination which has a much more even clean/scream split. What we see here is that the clean vocal segments are definitely the bands strength as the complicated musical onslaught is reigned in and seems controlled by the clean melodies, creating a unique combination of sounds that works perfectly.
Where it all works best is on the highlight of the EP in The Seraphim. This track shows of what the band can achieve when they perfect the sound that they are aiming for. The clean vocals again are a major high point with Richards showing great range, emotion and power in his delivery but the musicianship on this track is also exceptional with very memorable guitar lines and an unstoppable breakdown all adding into the magnificent melting point that is this song.
Echelon brings the EP to to an end in huge style with the clean intro and build making the chorus of this track sound massive. But what is of most notice on this song is the guitar solo showing that Terraform are no one man show, it takes all of their incredibly talented members to make this click and when people get a hold of this EP, especially those fond of the tech metal genre, it will blow their minds.
Overall, what is most notable about this EP is that the band have purposefully focused on more clean vocals without tampering with the sound people previously know them for and they should be applauded for doing so. By utilising the magnificent voice that Richards possesses the band have put themselves in an area to appeal to multiple different listers whilst maintaining their core sound and when they master this, they have the potential to be unstoppable.
8/10 – Ambitious and unique, will be amazing when they master it
Highlight – The Seraphim