Terror 2000
Faster Disaster
7.1
If you're like me and found Soilwork's latest album, Natural Born Chaos basically a complete disappointment, I can proudly report that Speed Strid redeems himself beyond redemption with his side project Terror 2000's latest release, Faster Disaster. When I truly thought all hope was lost, Speed quickly proves me wrong with a revitalized scorching vocal performance. Back to the old and out with the clean. Pure aggression, everlasting power and raw thrash blast your skull as you plummet your way through the 38:47 of Faster Disaster. With riffs embodying colossal speed and crunch, Klas Ideberg and Nick Sword seamlessly steal the show. The riffs are so fierce yet so calculated, they burn their way into your psyche with a merciless assault. The formula is simple yet extremely effective, ruthless speed combined with technical skill. Handling drumming duties and replacing the acclaimed Henry Ranta is Erik Thyselius. (Construcdead) Delivering agonizing blasts of intensity throughout, his addition to the crush is menacing. I may have to be so bold as to state he outshines Ranta's performance on Terror 2000's debut effort, Slaughterhouse Supremacy. The only flaw I could speak of would be the fact that his style is so unforgiving that he will not let up even at times when a groove-orientated riff transpires. A few of the stomp-riffs-of-pain within Faster Disaster demand a complimentary matching rhythm. Beyond that his drumming is severely Millennium and deserving of high praise. Strid's vocal performance falls somewhere in between his earlier releases with Soilwork, those of course the works of Steelbath Suicide and The Chainheart Machine. The commercialized sounds of Strid's voice on A Predator's Portrait and Natural Born Chaos are nowhere to be found. Strid also handles bass duties which are buried deep within the recording but appear to be solid. Lyrically, Faster Disaster is a disaster, at times Strid's lyrics are so cheese-filled he walks the fine line of actually being totally corny. If it wasn't for the sheer brutality of the deliverance this aspect could be detrimental. In the end though the overall extreme use of his vocal chords win over any questionable wording that lies within. Many friends of the band show up and lend guest appearances, with the strongest efforts coming from Peter Witchers (Soilwork) and Christopher Malmstrom (Darkane). Witchers shreds a lead on I'm Speed at Night and Malmstrom offers the same on Formula Flame Feast with both contributions fitting perfectly. The oddest addition comes way of the gang vocals on I'm Speed at Night, twenty-five or so top metal magazine journalists were invited to record on this song after they attended a listening party for Soilwork's Natural Born Chaos. Now tell me this wasn't a brilliant idea, it should easily ensure great reviews of this album. Nice work to whoever came up with that idea. Bottom Line: Terror 2000 has returned with an even more powerful second album. Monopolizing on all that made Slaughterhouse Supremacy so memorable, the riffs are superior and the music maintains an eager will-to-crush. Overall the sound is nowhere near groundbreaking but does incorporate a more modernized thrash feel. The technical attacks of Faster Disaster meld skill and maturity into one overall commanding experience, proving Terror 2000 is a cruel entity of the Millennium.
