TERRA::POLARIS
"Supernova 2004"
5 Tracks 30 Mins
1. Static Vakuum Code
2. Deathkonstruktion
3. System-GM
4. Motion Charged Eruption
5. Symmetry.7
On first listen to the clips I heard on the Terra::Polaris site, I was hugely impressed at their odd, electro based black metal assaults so was definitely looking forward to sitting down with this, and with a very stylish cover, the whole package seemed very professional as well.
'Static Vakuum code' starts with dissonant chords, huge stabs of rhythm guitar and a nice groove appears along with the distorted guitars. Some excellent off kilter chugging keeps it going nicely, and when the song proper takes off, it is Satyricon and Mayhem ('Wolfs Lair Abyss' EP especially) that seem the main influence.
Crushingly tight (in part due to the programmed drums and blastings) and aided by a fantastically crisp production, Terra::Polaris throw in many unexpected ideas amidst the black metal onslaught, a great electro mid section, a few deathly rasps akin to Bill Steer's guttural burps on 'Symphonies of Sickness' that are a touch underused I think, and generally this is one of the more discordant and hard to listen to black metal releases.
'Deathkonstruktion' is a little more straight forward but still has some ingenious touches with broken up notes, effected vocals and absolutely sick warpings. The grasp of dynamics is stunning as well, a few bleaker moments that make the CD even more special appear. The intro to 'System-GM' could fit a dentist chair nightmare, and the sounds are a strange, sick, falling bliss. The song itself is very much Satyricon of latter era worship, in fact, the band could pass as the Norse God's cousins. The basic sound comparisons and vocal deliveries are pretty similar, the overall vibe however, is a lot more experimental, mechanical and obscure.
Either way this is a purely brilliant and original style of Black Metal based sonic bombardment with enough out and out battery to please the true, and enough variation to please those thinking everything is generic of itself. Listen to the supreme 'Motion charged eruption' and the purely evil, epic closer 'Symmetry.7' for proof, the latter is littered with amazing orchestration, creeping riffs and operatic backups.
This will be featured a lot on my CD player.
Paul Raw Nerve
Related Link:
http://www.terrapolaris.cjb.net
TERRA::POLARIS - "Supernova 2004"
