Formed in late 1998 from a plan to start a technical death metal band, Sweden's Terminal Function made their second official demo available for free download on their website in the end of last year.

Opener 'The Brainshaped Mind' sounds more than a bit like Meshuggah. Churning heavy rhythm guitars, disharmonics, out-of-ordinary rhythms and tempo changes soon mutate into something reminiscent of technical space death metal monsters Theory In Practice. Lead guitar work includes jazzy shit that just doesn not stick into my brain and playing that sounds like bleeping evil artificial intelligence. Effect is increased with cool sci-fi electronics. At times drumming sounds like more than one rhythm is played simultaneously. Terminal Function have carved their little niche somewhere between these two countrymates of 'em. It's not as chaotic as Meshuggah or Theory In Practice at their most warped, but nevertheless excellently performed. Screeching growl vocals are surprisingly ballsy and some clean sung lines add memorable choruses, although singing can't be called as skilled by any mean.

It's incredible hard to write anything constructive about 'The Brainshaped Mind', but download it now if technical metal is your stuff. This will be soon available as a product you can take into your hands, by the way. Why the fuck hasn't some record label grabbed these guys already?!

Reviewed by Lane
04/14/2005 13:00