From Tempe, Arizona comes the band Vektor who give you a sci-fi beat down of the most metal kind. Using a repertoire that pulls heavily from the old school thrash sounds that we all grew up on and loved. Added to that, they give you a bit of prog musicianship to complete the picture. This combo works extremely well even when the growling raspy vocals of David Disanto turn into a fingernail on the chalkboard screech at different times throughout the disc. These guys know how to play and the subject matter is very fitting for the style that they show on Black Future.
Starting out with a pair of balls to the wall rockers, Vektor sets a monstrous tone with "Black Future" and "Oblivion". This beginning will knock the wind out of you with a metal punch to the gut that let's you know that Heavy Artillery Records has brought out the real heavy artillery this time. Whipping you into a frenzy with the crushing combo of speed and dynamic riffage, this is the way it is done old school style.
When "Destroying The Cosmos" hits you next with its slow, eerie start before delving into a piece that goes through a series of very cool musical interludes. The music drifts from the hard core thrash to a very melodic, moody guitar section with some dynamic changes throughout. This is my favorite moments on the disc and I hope that they continue in this vein as it is a sound that draws the attention of the listener and keeps it!
There is a few times on this disc where the band branches out and shows that they are much more than a one dimensional band. "Forest Of Legend", "Dark Nebula" and "Accelerating Universe" all clock in over ten minutes long and are tunes that are given ample time to create an atmosphere which sucks you into their world. Vektor can and does show you more musical ability than the vast majority of bands in the genre. They manage to bridge that gap between the heavy and melodic in such a subtle way that you don't even realize you are getting a musical education while headbanging.
This is an album that took me quite by surprise. The band knows their craft and showcases it in a way that makes me want to hear more. If there is one thing I would tell them is to contain those falsetto shrieks of Disanto. One here and there is O.K. but give it a rest already. Other than that, this is one that will make you throw on the headphones and get lost in the cosmic world of Vektor.
Track listing:
1. Black Future
2. Oblivion
3. Destroying The Cosmos
4. Forest Of Legend
5. Hunger For Violence
6. Deoxyribonucleic Acid
7. Asteroid
8. Dark Nebula
9. Accelerating Universe
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