TERA „“Forerunner””

Music: Progressive Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Web site: http://www.myspace.com/teraonline

“Forerunner,” the debut album by UK four-piece TERA relates a definite modern progressive metal sound. Said album contains six tracks of dark, amorphis, metal in the tradition of OPETH. Emulating the mighty OPETH is no easy task, and TERA falls well short of the mark.

Sure, the group has down much of OPETH’s techniques. They smoothly unify hard music with light, subtle tones. Drummer Ben Simpson spearheads the multitude of off-timed beats, and bassist Alan Danso provides the occasional warm bass line, while James Reid and Andrew Danso produce somber, bluesy guitar solos. Still, there is something amiss on “Forerunner.”

Part of the issue with this recording is the lack of originality. Anyone who has even listened to OPETH, and that includes just about everybody who has stayed current with today’s metal scene, has heard the music TERA creates, only with a much greater amount of skill. Also, TERA’s prog/metal rendition comes across flat when compared to OPETH. TERA’s vocalist possesses a smooth voice, but lacks the range Mikael Akerfeldt’s brings, in turn hurting the band during energetic time changes.

Because of my love for OPETH and their associated band, PORCUPINE TREE, I really wanted to like this album. I even gave it a couple of spins, hoping there was something I missed, but in the end its lack of energy, originality and long-winded tracks never rubbed off on me. Proggressive rock/metal records have the ability of either sticking in my brain or losing my attention. Those heavily into prog should give TERA a chance, but for this writer they are another progressive band to overlook.

note: 5/10

Tracklist

1. Nan Madol
2. Moon Trio
3. None Incarnet
4. Forerunner
5. Coloured Skies
6. Tirade

Line-up

Alan Danso-Bass Guitar/Vocals
James Reid-Guitar/Vocals
Andrew Danso-Guitars
Ben Simpson-Drums