VEKTOR – Black Future (re-issue)
- Posted on 27-05-2013
Moving from Arizona to Pennsylvania, the progressive thrash quartet Vektor has made quite an impression on the underground with their image, sound and style. Lyrical themes around the science-fiction realm plus a logo befitting the Canadian giants Voivod means you aren’t going to get the average meat and potatoes band here. "Black Future" is their debut album originally issued in 2009 on Heavy Artillery Records, gaining a re-release here with their new label Earache, and for those not in the know about these gentlemen, you need to be.
Plain and simple, this is the type of thrash that stimulates in a way Sacrifice, Voivod, Coroner, and Slayer have through the years. Unconventional riff construction, blitzkrieg and sporadic harmonies abound, sandpaper and lightning quick vocal patterns- while mixing things up between normal 4-6 minute time frames and the occasional sprawling 10 minute plus epic arrangement. David DiSanto as a vocalist recalls Chuck S. from Death if given a Sacrifice/ Cyclone blender- and his guitar skills with fellow axe man Erik Nelson will give thrash maniacs quite an energetic workout. Bassist Frank Chin and drummer Blake Anderson keep up with the drop on a dime riff changes and furious instrumentation like veteran troopers- using elements of thrash, progressive and death metal to their advantage.
"Destroying the Cosmos" obliterates with this minor key gallop against insane speed trilling- the mid-tempo, exotic and left of center instrumental sections providing the ‘hook’ factor necessary for requisite head banging. "Forests of Legends" as the first 10 minute plus song gives Vektor a chance to set up the listener with this softer, almost Metallica-like guitar sequence before engaging your ears with an outer world progressive thrash arrangement, the bass work as intricate as the off time snare/double bass parts- the faster speed riffing giving off a Steel Prophet meets Voivod vibe. And so the album continues for 9 songs and 68+ minutes- taking you on a journey that you won’t soon forget… I mean how can you not love the incessant chugging throughout "Deoxyribonucleic Acid" or the space effects next to jangling chords for "Dark Nebula"?
Power, speed, dynamics, aggression, musical talent- all poured into "Black Future" and we win as fans of Vektor. Remember the excitement of early Metallica? Vektor capture that excitement again for me with their brand of progressive thrash- and they shouldn’t be in the shadows much longer if they keep churning out high quality albums like this.
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