### Vektor: Outer isolation

#### 09/01/12 || InquisitorGeneralis

With bands like Vektor, Black Breath, Hexen, and Warbringer out there things are looking good for thrash metal these days. None of those bands can be seen as retro, which is why they appeal to me. Adding new things to classic thrash concepts is a winning formula, and Vektor have it down pretty well. Think of these guys as Voivod on speed. “Black Future” really put them on the map, and I love it like I love my still-functioning GI Joe Terrordrome, but parts of it were just a bit too much for me. “Outer Isolation” still retains the spastic, spacey insanity that made its predecessor a success while tightening things up a bit and putting more focus into the tracks. “Black Future” was like a star going supernova and wasting seven quadrillion miles of space. “Outer Isolation” is a comet blazing through the heavens, tearing staffer Smalley’s anus-sized holes in any celestial bodies that have the misfortune of fucking with it.

It is fitting that “Outer Isolation” is from Heavy Artillery records, because this baby hits harder than the Executor’s 2,000 turbo lasers. Check that shit, bitch. I’m rocking official Lucas canon on that one. While “Cosmic Cortex” has a nice, building, melodic intro, and is a damn fine tune overall, the best of this album is found smack dab in the middle. This is where Vektor mix things up the most. “Dying world” kicks ass…as it should with a metaltastic name that DYING WORLD! “Tetrastructural minds” features a sweet melobreakdown complimented by heavier sections that have hints of death metal in their midst. Same goes for “Venus project” which has some nice tempo changes as well. The solo especially shines there. Just like the sun shines on Venus. Or is Venus covered in gas? Or am I just full of gas? Ask your mother, I blow loads of my man-fumes in here face every time I come over to take what’s mine, sucker.

The band’s talent is undeniable, although Dave DiSanto’s shrieks do get old after a while. His and Erik Nelson’s guitars help you get over that though. The drumming on here is fast and furious with some interesting fills and off-beat shit thrown in by Blake Anderson. The best thing in the percussion department is that Mr. Anderson (Neo?) slows things down a bit more often than on “Black Future” and tosses in heavier elements like rapid-fire double bass bursts and more extended grooves. Vektor came out swinging with “Black Future”, and now that they have the extreme metal world’s attention, it is only logical that they make an album that is slightly more accessible. Don’t worry though, these cosmonauts have not pussied and/or sold out in the least. They have brought the insanity back just enough to make an album that is pretty fucken satisfying front beginning to end. While not a classic or genre defining piece, “Outer Isolation” is spastic, thrashtic fun and worth a listen by anyone who digs thrash from the 5th dimension like Coroner, Voivod, or Sadus.

- Information
- Released:2011
- Label: Heavy Artillery Records
- Website: Vektor MySpace
- Band
- David DiSanto: vocals, guitars
- Erik Nelson: guitars
- Frank Chin: bass
- Blake Anderson: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Cosmic Cortex
- 02. Echoless Chamber
- 03. Dying World
- 04. Tetrastructural Minds
- 05. Venus Project
- 06. Dark Creations, Dead Creators
- 07. Fast Paced Society
- 08. Outer Isolation