Terminal Gods - Wave / Form

Wave / Form – Terminal Gods debut album – kicks in with the fuzz fed guitar feedback, drum machine heavy intro to Shockwave and right from the off makes clear its intent. Their guitars are switched to power play, their synths set to stun, all combine to complement their lead singer’s undeniable baritone vocals and guide us into a world where black leather and dark glasses rule. Terminal Gods have been to the Floorshow, taken in all what they saw, studied it, and have no shame in proudly wearing their influences on their heavy leather lapels – but it’s quite clear that they’re more emulate than imitate, when it comes to putting those influences together to create what is simply a very good, easily accessible collection of songs that fit nicely into the post-punk / goth section of your collection.

Take Electric Eyes or Cold Life as examples. Here we have songs that could easily have been swept from the Sisters cutting room floor…Whereas aforementioned tracks have been around a while, Connection & Rupture was written for this album. Not as gothic, but no less new-wave than the other tracks, it smacks of maturity. From its rather ominous, stark opening, and the deep somewhat taunting vocals, you can feel a brooding tension that edges on the brink and doesn’t let fly until the final half of the song where it explodes to cover you with the full force of the Gods…Consistent throughout, it’s not overly easy to pick a stand out track – which is testament to the quality of the entire track list – but I do have a soft spot for Discovery. Coming midway through the album, I love the underlying surf tones mixed with the power chords and did we mention the vocals already? As we said earlier, it’s easy to pick up on the classic gothic slant to the album, which is no mistake and as we reach the end, closing track ‘Heyday’ is as a fine a track as any you are likely to find this side of 1987.

 

 

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Terminal Gods debut album is a thundering slice of post-punk that follows a slew of well received singles and EPs. The culmination of which is the powerful Wave / Form, opening with the energetic Shockwave. Its swirling synths and driving guitars, underpinned by their expansive array of drum machines. This snarling track providing the perfect introduction and as the album gathers pace Monolith seems to go against the connotation of its name. A sultry number laden with swagger, soaring guitars and the previously intricate drums toned right down as the intense vocals take the fore. As the tracks reaches its crescendo it becomes ever more feverish as the urgency ratchets, and the previous serenity is eradicated. There is an increasingly dark tone to the album that exudes from Connection & Rupture, bright synth stabs the only light in this sullen track. Exposing a slightly different side, when compared to the gothic cabaret styling of Monolith. Connection & Rupture is more direct a pounding drumbeat and fizzing synths, firmly rooted in the eighties post punk scene albeit it with a modern twist. The variety of facets of Wave / Form just continues to grow with the sharp and urgent Destiny. As the album closes out on the seething tone of Heyday, it caps off this exciting album, which takes in a wide sonic palette, yet it’s this truly soothing track that rounds off the album perfectly. There’s an unparalleled delicacy compared to the haunting nature of so many of the other tracks, it comes just as you thought the band were done with the inordinate number of twists and turns but there is always room for one more.

Whilst their influences may be fairly plain to see, Terminal Gods have crafted their own niche. With duelling guitars, compelling vocals and the overall production quality of Wave / Form is above and beyond expectation. Beautifully polished, crisp beats and expansive guitars all make Wave / Form the intriguing and exciting album that it is.