TEMIC: Terror Management Theory (PROGRESSIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

The newcomer to the djent-prog scene is TEMIC, and they're about to make a big splash with their inaugural album. Indeed, a debut album is not necessarily synonymous with a trial run, as "Terror Management Theory" has the maturity of a seasoned band. And with good reason: the band's members have all cut their teeth in such prestigious bands as Devin Townsend and Haken for keyboardist Diego Tejeida, Neal Morse Band and Shattered Fortress for guitarist Eric Gillette, Shining and Arketype for drummer Simon Sandnes, Maraton and 22 for singer Fredrik Klemp.

It's all very well having a flattering CV, but it's even more important that the whole is homogeneous and, above all, interesting. The musicians have taken the best of each genre, extracted its essence and brought it up to date. Fans of progressive metal (Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation) won't be lost, nor will fans of djent (Periphery, TesseracT, Meshuggah), as the band surfs at the junction of genres, always in balance.

The central theme of "Terror Management Theory" is above all psychological, as it deals with a major subject: the management of fear. Expert psychologists argue that awareness of the inevitability of death generally prompts human beings to protect themselves and adhere to reassuring beliefs. This also explains the sometimes violent reactions of those who cannot bear to see their beliefs shaken. Doesn't our apparent violence simply betray our deep-seated fear? TEMIC offers some answers.

Speaking of violence, the track 'Acts of Violence' is a beautiful oxymoron, with its gentle start despite a title that augured a certain brutality, before it explodes in the most beautiful way after 2:40. The outro 'Mothallah' is of such beauty that it deserves a review of its own. In addition to the nod to Dream Theater, the reference to the star Mothallah reminds us that we all have the strength within us to overcome life's adversities, especially the fear of death that is central to the theory of fear management. TEMIC offers humanity a message of hope: if life is a mystery with its share of internal (mind/thoughts) and external (environment/surroundings) challenges to face, we have all the necessary resources within us to succeed.

TEMIC's "Terror Management Theory" is a powerful and original package. Despite their rhythmic complexity and numerous technical feats, the tracks seem to be executed without force, or even effort, and are swallowed up with ease. An impressive debut album that would be a shame to ignore. - Official website

TEMIC

TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY

SEASON OF MIST

PROGRESSIVE METAL