Band:	TEMIC
Album:	Terror Management Theory
Style:	Progressive metal
Release date:	November 17, 2023
A review by:	Dream Taster

01. TMT
02. Through The Sands Of Time
03. Falling Away
04. Count Your Losses
05. Skeletons
06. Acts Of Violence
07. Friendly Fire
08. Paradigm
09. Once More
10. Mothallah

The progressive metal field is filled with mines of different wars. The unavoidable Dream Theater comparison, the dropped retro comment "this sounds like Pink Floyd", the light-footed reference to anything that was ever recorded before. It is a tough field to operate in as opposed to say melodic death. So when something this refreshing comes along, I most definitly need to bring it to your attention. It is truly simultaneously my plight and my pleasure folks.

TEMIC are a prog band from Norway who do not try to sound like Leprous, or much like anything I have ever listened to, with prolific guitar guru Eric Gillette of Neal Morse fame and former Haken keyboard mastermind Diego Tejeida acting as a bicephalic orchestrator. Top that with an ultra solid rhythmic duo of Simen Sandnes [drums] and Jacob Umansky [bass] and virtuoso performer Fredrik Bergersen Klemp [vocals]. Seriously, where did they find such underused talent? As is immediately evident on first listen, Terror Management Theory is a statement of not-over-the-top, yet delectable progressive metal in its direct approach. Confused? You should be. This album is an oddity that pops up about once or twice a decade. It is music that is direct to the core and still multi-faceted enough to qualify as prog.

The songwriting is varied and quality. The songs are guitar-and-keyboards-heavy by design. The production is crystal-clear and mostly punchy. This is not your grandpa's prog music with directionless exploration of rock instruments and open-ended epic tracks. This is most definitely contemporary progressive music with a strange design pattern that somehow works. A track such as "Skeletons" is there to crystallize what I have just stated. It combines the velvety softness of Fredrik voice with the extreme prog power engine spirit of Eric and Diego in Symphony X mode at the height of their craft, circa 2000.

The timely release of "singles" throughout 2023 kept me seriously riveted to my YouTube app despite the renewed evil of pushy ads. Personally, "Count Your Losses", "Through the Sands of Time", "Mothallah" were highlights of the year even before the full album was released. The unique blend of skills by those musicians somewhat gelling on a perfect blank sheet of a production is unique and spectacular. This is a feat only matched by recent greats such as Soen and perhaps Haken.

"Acts of Violence", "Friendly Fire" and "Paradigm" are favourite songs of mine. Musical exploration in a confined space that pushes its boundaries at its best. Diego Tejeida is reminding everyone why Haken were so successful when he was onboard.

Obviously, commercial success was not the primary focus on Terror Management Theory. Taylor Swift isn't shaking in her pink shorts yet. That being said, TEMIC have managed to set the stage for bigger things in the near future while putting out a meaningful statement. Progressive metal needn't be so meandering. If you do it right from the onset, it will stick out and people will remember you. This is an innovative album, and one of the best things I have heard in a while in the prog category.

So feast upon the singles that are "Through the Sands of Time", "Count Your Losses", and "Mothallah". After that, explore the rest of the album. You won't regret it. It is a process. Cannot wait for what comes out next from TEMIC.