| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Garret Thomas |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA, Brazil, New Zealand |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 54:36 |
Everything about the Roxx Records September of 2021 The Thomas Thompson Earthy Project third album Systematic Brain Drain improves on its predecessors. The multi-national power trio, consisting of multi-instrumentalist Garret Thomas (USA), vocalist Dale Thompson (New Zealand) and guitarist Tiago James (Brazil), got its start in February of 2020 with its debut full length Dreamland Lovecraft (also Roxx). I identify with it as ‘a jacked-up early Bride but with outside the box thrash, groove to funk, industrial and even techno nuances’ that comes across a ‘tiring listen as a result of an eccentric side overplayed to a fault and unconventional song structuring that makes little if any sense’ (quoting the 75% Angelic Warlord review).
Whereas we did not review August of 2020 sophomore effort 7 Angels, 1 Sad Devil (Roxx), it found the group trimming the fat as it pertains to its songwriting by asserting a more focused and stripped down straightforward metal bearing mixed with progressive nuances. Despite that, however, I failed to grow into the 7 Angels, 1 Sad Devil material due to a repetitive element nullifying the hooks and melodies required to pull in with repeat play.
Good news that all changes with Systematic Brain Drain from how the group takes its songwriting to the next level by emphasizing those hooks and melodies to conceive the better rounded listening experience. Key is musical direction in that while The Thomas Thompson Earth Project upholds a similar metal formula, it backs from some of the progressive aspects in compacting its songwriting (no more seven to nine minute epics) while reinforcing thrash to groove elements, albeit lightly done and not to fault either way. Ultimately, I am impressed of early Bride albums Live To Die, of similar full on power and intensity, and Silence Is Madness, as found in dark and swarthy overtures, but with hints of turn of the century offering Skin For Skin, revealed in prodigious hook and groove doses.
Album opens to “Own Worst Enemy”, a double bass driven bludgeoner with an anthem metal feel and overriding catchy riffs and hooks to speak of Barren Cross. Intensity and emotion is on high, as Thompson stretches with his recognizable razor edged, mid-ranged vocal style in yielding ferocity and furor on high. Lyric snippet:
God is a consuming fire
Believers are baptized and anointed with fire
Jesus and His disciples red-hot blazing
Jesus’ eyes are burning through me
Testing, refining, proving and purifying
Removing the chaff from the wheat
Fire reveals the quality of our work, our work
We are all salted by fire
“Fall Upon The Rock” decelerates to a mid-paced grind with a darker complexion, low end is of an unfathomable quality, and understated melody, pinpointed in vocal harmonies of a banshee like form. Tiago James ups severity with his simmering soloing and precise rhythm guitar, bringing to The Thomas Thompson Earth project a similar level of professionalism as Perpetual Paranoia and new Biogenesis album Rise Of The Phoenix.
Speed metal fury superimposed with melodic vestiges characterizes “All Things Return”. Song starts at once, charging full throttle through its unflagging verse section only to make an abrupt transition by smoothing for its surprisingly dainty and exquisite refrain. A light power metal essence prevails accordingly. Lyric snippet:
God is the end of all things
Into Him all things return
Jesus is the heir of the world
Grace is stronger than sin
No place for sin, no place for evil, no place for hell
That God might be all in all
God is the end of all things
Into Him are things returned
“Game Changer” extends outside the box in capturing the eccentricity to Dreamland Lovecraft. It stresses modest industrial gradients, a techno feel reveals in the opening keyboards, but mixed with monstrous metal grooves, growling and snarling to completion. I identify with “Skeleton Bones” as a companion track in affirming its share of industrial keyboards but in a darker package reaching for the Gothic, disclosing the eerie and creepy in the form of harsh vocals and haunting feedback.
“Cast Them Out” unleashes full on angst from the get go, repeating its title in venomous fashion while declaring of the keyed up in its interminable double kick drum proclivity. Choppy riffs are extremely memorable and vocals decidedly done in reaching for the bottomless. It adds up to an engaging joining of ire and melody. Lyric snippet:
We all watched you fall like lightning from the sky
A titanic thunderbolt tore all secrets from my chest
Shall I contemplate my own demise?
My vigil was suffocating and deliberate
My mind assaulted with a cold aching chill
Cast them out
We live on with broken hearts
I can feel nothing but pain
Cast them out
Nail it to the cross, to the cross
Cast all your burdens on Him…
“New Day” appeals with its bombastic overtures. Song gives prominence to the contentious, upholding a darker groove based partiality within a doom-ish packaging as the ominous and foreboding hold sway. Despite the impassioned scene, “New Day” does not point to the heavy handed or repetitive as an unmistakable melody rises to the surface.
“Overcoming Evil” embodies musical chaos, churning with its pulsating low end to create a mass of distortion as vocals range from soaring to earthy to bloodcurdling screams. Instrumental moments impress as hyper-intensive soloing and walls of swamping riffs lead to a passage to see Thompson repeatedly chant ‘if God is for us, who can be against us’. Lyric snippet:
I look beyond the bounds of infinity into the eyes of God
And so I proclaim
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world
More than conquers in Christ Jesus
If God is for us, who can be against us
Overcoming evil with us
The mystery of the ages now revealed by the Spirit
And we are filled, we celebrate the jubilee
Impetus tempers for straight on metal chargers “Systematic Brain Drain”. Albums title track breathes of vitality, jump-starting to pounding drums and not letting up its span as guitars reveal an occasional bluesy vibe and keyboards a robotic charm as unyielding persuasion pummels things ahead. Quieter moments at the halfway point find songs title repeated in ethereal fashion.
A light progressiveness resonates on “Losing Control”. Song takes your breath away as it launches with track star like speed in screaming of venom only to stop dead in its tracks for angelic choirs and symphonic keyboards. Yet, it does not hold back in terms of melody, as one of albums stronger choruses separates in repeating songs with full on power and emotion: I’m losing control / I’m bearing my soul… Lyric snippet:
No shadow of turning, no fear of burning
I’m losing control, I’m bearing my soul
God’s delight to treasure together
Every valley shall be lifted, every mountain will be made low
Light the lamp of our understanding
So we may see the face of Jesus reflected in us
One has died for all, therefore all have died
While we were dead in sin, we were being raised again
“Save One” ups energy with its resounding technical metal riffing and chanted Iron Maiden like vocals, reinforcing emotion to point of off the charts while playing up equally an unavoidable melody that cannot be denied. Over final minute vocals scream with full intensity to ‘pray in Jesus name for the ones that the devil claims / Until you can pray no more…
Lone song I shy from is “My Darkest Hour”, which I find on the heavy-handed side due to reinforcing the extreme to thrash aspect to fault. The few brief moments of melody end up overshadowed by vocals on the too harsh side of things, at least for my taste. Lyric snippet:
He was the substance of every prophetic shadow
The Master of the Sabbath
He was the temple that was raised from the dust
Enter unto His rest
To celebrate His perfect work in us
That which is to be has already been
Slain from the foundations of the world
In His time people gazed upon Him
Credit The Thomas Thompson Earth project for the significant steps and strides made over its first three albums. No doubt Systematic Brain Drain is the real deal as an exemplary example of technical metal mixed with thrash, progressive, Gothic and industrial leanings. Give The Thomas Thompson Earth Project most improves band of the year award as a result. Yes, the group is HEAVY but offsets an aggression with ample doses of melody - not to mention very fine musicianship and production - to create a well deserves 90% graded project.
Track Listing: “Own Worst Enemy” (4:16), “Fall Upon The Enemy” (4:01), “All Things Return” (5:07), “Game Changer” (4:19), “Cast Them Out” (4:45), “Skeleton Bones” (4:52), “New Day” (3:52), “Overcoming Evil” (5:19), “Systematic Brain Drain” (3:58), “Losing Control” (5:52), “Save One” (3:53), “My Darkest Hour” (4:22)
Musicians
Dale Thompson - Lead Vocals
Garret Thomas - Everything Else
Guest Musicians
Tiago James DeSouza - Guitars
