The Internet has ushered in a new age of revivalist music trends, with thrash metal particularly benefiting from a surge in interest. But, while countless acts re-live every sound the genre has to offer, Vektor finds a way to embrace the past while also carving out an original niche: The young Arizona band combines thrash with elements of black metal and progressive rock. The resulting blend is fast, detailed, incredibly melodic and unexpectedly inventive. It's a sound Vektor established on its 2009 album Black Future, and the evolution continues two years later with Outer Isolation.
"Tetrastructural Minds" mixes together the new album's strongest attributes: frontman David DiSanto's banshee calls, a barrage of guitar riffs, an incomparably tight performance. There's a sudden drop in speed two thirds of the way into the track, at which point "Tetrastructural Minds" transitions into an unexpected and awe-inspiring interlude.
What's most surprising is how much accessibility Vektor brings to its technical ability. The band's music never comes across as difficult, but it maintains a high level of skill throughout. That's not an easy card to play, but it's one of many challenges Vektor conquers on its way to updating the thrash-metal blueprint.
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