If you thought their last album, “Black Future†was perfect, wait until you hear “Outer Isolation†– the newest offering from Sci-fi thrashers Vektor. With breakneck speed and tempos that change on a dime, it truly is a modern day classic.
The album pulls no punches as it starts off with the 10-minute epic, “Cosmic Cortex.†There is so much going on it’s terrifying. David DiSanto’s complexity and Chuck Schuldiner (Death) style vocals propel this to new heights and more.
Then comes the jazz-groove based wormhole known as “Echoless Chamber.” It’s a pretty smooth transition between the opener and the next track with just the right amount of ferocity.
“Dying World†feature interesting choruses filled with amazing drumming of Blake Anderson. The song’s midsection intensifies the song further and further at warp speed, making this one of their best songs to date.
“Terastructural Minds†is one of the most technical songs ever written. The speed and complexity between all the instruments is mind blowing. Frank Chin’s bass lines are flawless. The tempo changes rapidly and the ending is capped off nicely with fast jazz and DiSanto’s siren screams.
“Venus Project†might as well be the new theme song for mad scientists. It teleports through every genre known to rock and metal. There’s blues, jazz, progressive, some funk elements and of course, speed, death and thrash. The song is nothing but raw power.
“Dark Creations, Dead Creators,†is another fast one that rips into you like a facehugger and holds on for the ride. A rediculous solo sets things into hyperspace.
“Fast Paced Society†is a jazzy, proggy mammoth that slows things down just a tad until the last quarter where a speedy riff comes out of nowhere, only to slow things again to throw in some Pink Floyd/Voivod elements before the tempo changes to something faster than lightning. The solo takes off with DiSanto’s vocal screeches not far behind and then comes a crazy sci-fi ending sure to leave you with a dropped jaw.
The album finally comes to a close with the title track. And what a closer it is. This is easily one of the best songs the band will ever put out. It’s heavier than a pile of bodies and it won’t stop making you bang your head. The last quarter is what makes it go from great to scary. The break before constant rapid-fire is spine tingling and will leave you in a constant state of not knowing what the hell is going on. In short your brains will be splattered all over your listening area.
“Outer Isolation†is one of the best albums in the genre. It may be perfect and should be up for metal album of the year. Vektor is a name that should be getting thrown around a lot more than it currently is, but hopefully after this release it becomes a name one can’t avoid. The band has no place to go but up from here, unless of course it’s back to their home planet.
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