Terebra – Atlas Of Dreamland
Album Review By Rainer Kerber
I’ve known singer Myriam Raska since May 2018. I met her during the Metal Queen’s Burning Night. She had a guest appearance there with the organizers of the festival – Wolfsinger. At this time, I also heard about her band Terebra for the first time. The band was founded in 2010 by the singer and guitarist Kone. In 2014 a demo CD was released, followed one year later by the single “Resilience”. At the same time, work on an album began. But as is often the case with small bands. It took some time for this to finish. The result “Atlas Of Dreamland” can be heard since mid-October.
Great to hear that there are also metal albums that do not have an intro. Thus, the Italians start directly with “Lucid Dreaming”. After the short synth introduction, guitar riffs begin. Shortly afterwards you can hear the voice of the singer. No opera singing, but a nice rock voice, a pleasant mezzo soprano that can easily compete with the rhythm section. And this also play powerful on the opener. Afterwards, the band sings itself. The title “Terebra” inevitably raises the question, what is hidden behind the term. According to Wikipedia, either a genus of screw snails or a medieval war machine (masonry drill). A song from the alternative metal genre. Guitars, drums and vocals sound a bit aggressive here. But it is also quiet, as the band at “Eternal Limbo” shows. After heavy riffs at the beginning it gets quieter later, partly balladesk with acoustic guitars, partly anthemnic with nice guitar solos. The keyboards provide the melodic base. That was just the calm before the storm, because at “Resilience” the Italians are chasing us hectic-sounding riffs around our ears. Even if the vocals are sometimes very melodious, the song is very restless. Melodic meets Alternative Metal. “Interspace” is again characterized by acoustic guitars and looks more like a little interlude. Thanks to the minimalist instrumental accompaniment, you can fully enjoy the voice of Myriam. Even jokers can cry. Despite everything, “Jester’s Tears” starts rather optimistic. But then strings start playing and the vocals are melancholic. The rollercoaster of emotions is literally tangible here. Industrial sounds can be heard in the mostly quiet “Lost Identity”. But even here, these quiet passages alternate with hectic riffs. “The Undead” is then again an alternative metal cracker. Brachial riffs fall on the listener. This also continues with the bouncer “99 Rooms”. For this purpose, experimental keyboard sounds are incorporated again and again.
You can tell from the album that it has been worked on for many years. It seems that Terebra are looking for the band’s own sound here, so diverse are the musical stylistic devices that can be heard here. All in all, the Italians have made a respectable debut. Of course, I am now looking forward to further development. I hope and wish that Terebra can work intensively on a successor.
Terebra – The Undead: https://youtu.be/O0fkra2Yn8w
Lineup:
Myriam Raska – Vocals
Kone – Guitars
Marco Cei – Guitars
Giovanni “Iron Maida” – Bass
Terebra for recording AOD Album – Drums (actual since 2019: Simone)
Label: Self released
Out: October 21st, 2019
Playing time: 41:27
Track list:
- Lucid Dreaming
- Terebra
- Eternal Limbo
- Resilience
- Interspace
- Jester’s Tears
- Lost Identity
- The Undead
- 99 Rooms
Rating : 8/10
MHF Magazine/Rainer Kerber
