| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Garret Thomas |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA & New Zealand |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 48:21 |
With a bold new sound, Thomas Thompson Earth Project adds a dose of accessibility to its straightforward heavy metal lineage with the May of 2024 Roxx Records release to its fourth album Resurrection. Previously the multi-national act released in 2020 (also on Roxx) its first two albums Dreamland Lovecraft, ‘(a joining of) outside the box thrash, groove and funk with industrial to techno nuances’ (quoting the 75% Angelic Warlord review), and 7 Angels, 1 Sad Devil, a no-nonsense metal slugfest that we passed on due to a slight repetitive element. Where Thomas Thompson Earth Project put it together is on its 2021 third Roxx release Systematic Brain Drain, a 90% Angelic Warlord graded work ‘impressing of early Bride albums Live To Die, similar in power and intensity, and Silence Is Madness, found in dark and swarthy overtures, but with hook and groove doses akin to Skin For Skin from 2006’.
Thomas Thompson Earth Project imbued its first two albums with strong progressive overtones, referencing manner in which Dreamland Lovecraft featured many songs in the six to seven minute range and 7 Angels, 1 Sad Devil several topping out at eight to nine. With Systematic Brain Drain, however, the group started to truncate its songwriting length with most cuts around four to five minutes, while Resurrection follows suit with much of its material under four. Upshot is a newfound Thomas Thompson Earth Project emphasis on catchier hooks, meatier riffs and stronger melodies that pull you in on first listen, not that its earlier material was less able but rather took added time to draw in. The group otherwise maintains its exacting metal demeanor imbued with strong groove elements but also revisits the industrial and techno keyboard elements to Dreamland Lovecraft.
As its name implies, Thomas Thompson Earth Project centers around founding members Garrett Thomas (US based multi-instrumentalist) and Dale Thompson (front man making make New Zealand his home), whom is best known for his work in Bride and side projects too numerous to mention. Joining the two on the group’s first three albums is Brazilian guitarist Tiago James de Souza. I am uncertain if de Souza performs on Resurrection - he receives no attribution in albums liner notes - but close listen reveals (at least to my ears) his signature aggressive rhythm guitar and intricate soloing presence.
Regardless of line up, one cannot deny that opening cut “Is There A Heaven” is a slugger. It begins to several seconds of industrial style keyboards ahead of launching in full force, stark in terms of its forceful aggression but not forsaking accessibility as found in the catchy hooks to draw in with repeat play. Thompson remains in fine form with his expansive but earthy delivery to see him reach down on occasion for guttural screams. Lyric snippet:
I’m an empty soul to be made whole
Mold me and shape me, oh Lord
My heart is torn, malformed. I’m a monster
Your will I will conform
My mind will be transformed
Make it real I am restored
Now and forever more
“The Spellbound” is of equally virtue. It brings an almost thrash allure, breaking down between slower ‘chugga-chugga’ riff moments and others in which the angst bursts forth in ceaseless fashion- all the while double kick drum elevates the intensity exponentially. Interestingly, a harsh voice whispering ‘close your eyes’ highlights the backend throughout.
The calm but ominous moments to initiate “The Eternal One” soon give way to full on aggression. The song steadfastly plunders ahead in yielding fiery underpinning groove but not forsaking melody as found in the contrastingly distant vocal harmonies to play a lightening role. The audible bass and relentless drums to separate in the mix not to mention perfectly placed rhythm guitar point accent the dynamic production. Lyric snippet:
Faithful and righteous
El Shaddai for He is the almighty
God is one, there is no division in Him
My God, He is self-existing
No beginning and no end
Infinite beyond our understanding
God is immutable, never changes; no shadow of turning
Rays from Hi s hands, hiding in His power
“Resurrection” represents fourth straight opening top of the line cut. With techno style keyboards awash over herculean guitars, the song stirs up a chaotic storm of resilience as vocals speak of angry gritty and hooks beguile with intrepid ascendancy. Albums title track finds Thomas Thompson Earth Project at its industrial best.
Straightforward metal mauler “My God Bleeds” maintains the quality. It finds impassioned bass leading the way through the heated verse sections only to give way to full on guitars as impetus smoothes for the surprisingly melodically tinged refrain. Instrumentally, lead guitar aligns with the songs snarling affection. Lyric snippet:
My God Bleeds, son of suffering
Bleeds for you
My God bleeds, weeps for you
Laid down His body, how can it be
My God Bleeds, son of suffering
With all of His affection, safe guard protection
Time for reflection
Guide and direction, life the resurrection
Aptly entitled “Rock Solid” proves exactly that. Songs first minute sees keyboards playing a lead role alongside diminished guitars and layered vocal melodies, while remaining four take a plainspoken groove-like tone as guitars surge to the forefront. Expertly executed refrain repeats songs title in fragmenting fashion.
With keyboard solo to start, “Jesus Our Savior” plods in mid-tempo fashion only to gradually gain force as double kick drum and rampart like guitars take over to lead the way to speak of traditional metal. Interesting time changes allow the groups progressive roots to reemerge: lighter keyboards laden passages that periodically take over give way to stauncher moments to include near extreme vocals. Lyric snippet”
He’ll gather together all things in Christ
Which are in heaven and things on the earth
Eternal Word, goal of the universe
At the name Jesus, every knee shall bow
Every tongue confesses Jesus is Lord
All things put under His feet. Far above heavens
That He might fill all things by Him
To reconcile all things God our Savior
The instrumental intro to “In This I’m Living” to feature melodic bass and wave like guitar brings to mind The Awful Truth. Outside of that, “In This I’m Living” is its own song, hammering with near thrash like intensity with a tumultuous feel but not forsaking the groups groove like underpinnings as verve-like hooks dictate and vocals grip and snarl with the best of them.
“They Hated Jesus First” is not so much albums finest but a potential candidate for song of the year. It proves albums lightens and most reserved, distinct from aligning equally parts Alice Cooper like swarthy vestiges (sort of like Brutal Planet) with creepy and moving metal ballad feel (think Silence Is Madness era Bride). Yet, there is also a decidedly commercial impression from the song upholding melody of the highest order. Lyric snippet:
Living fast, dying young, the first will be last
Lower the flags to half-mast
I tell you these things so you don’t fall away
Preserve to the end, believe what you pray
When they come to take you, use the name
The name greater than any other name, Jesus
I told you there’d be days like this
If “They Hate Jesus First” is albums best song, “In Thy Name” rates a close second. The drum solo to start over haunting keyboards gives way to wonderfully catchy groove like riffs that recoil in and out of the mix, with the beguiling progression bolstered by intricate lead guitar and hooks of a radio friendly form. What we have is another example of Thomas Thompson Earth Project at the top of its heaviest game but not backing from the listenable all the same.
“Seven Times Fallen” is the final in what in my opinion are eleven great songs to grace Resurrection. Dance style keyboards to start ahead of flowing guitars crunching in, with the catchy groove flowing smoothly as keyboards make occasional appearance and decided melodic overtures border on the commercial. This one is somewhat on the lighter side but solid all the same. Lyric snippet:
You know it’s coming, it doesn’t’ discriminate
You got it in your bones, you are the remedy
You might get knocked down, but you’re not out
If God is for us, who can be against us?
You can lose the battle, but win the war
If the darkness comes, God is your light
Lift up your hand, you are not defeated
He will carry you to victory, made complete
Rounding out quite the consistent album are two songs I rate in the good to very good range. “Can’t Put The Light Out” resonates of bare bones metal with lightly done hooks and solid message (‘You’re the great Satan, defeated by the cross’) and “Immortal Ones” a forward keyboard placement and bluesy shred lead guitar in abundance.
On Resurrection, Thomas Thompson Earth Project carries over the momentum gained on Systematic Brain Drain. Yes, the group reveals a new sound in terms of how songwriting is shorter and in a more melodic vein, but overall the album proves no less able when placed alongside. At the very least Resurrection maintains the group’s propensity for abject heaviness, while revisiting the industrial to techno nuances of the past. If a fan of previous Thomas Thompson Earth Project albums or heavy metal with an industrial edge, then you can do no wrong with Resurrection (get Systematic Brain Drain too if you have not already done so).
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Is There A Heaven” (3:29), “The Spellbound” (3:43), “The Eternal One” (3:29), “Resurrection” (3:48), “My God Bleeds” (3:55), “Rock Solid” (4:26), “Jesus Our Savior” (3:43), “In This I’m Living” (3:06), “They Hated Jesus First” (3:57), “In Thy Name” (4:43), ‘’Can’t Put The Light Out” (3:32), “Seven Times Fallen” (3:28), “Immortal Ones” (3:00)
