Composer Reacts to Vektor - Charging the Void (REACTION & ANALYSIS)

Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on Vektor - Charging the Void (Official Audio)
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0:00 Intro
0:53 Reaction
10:06 Analysis - Some Genre Talk
12:21 Analysis - Wild Structure
15:20 Analysis - Neat Chord Choices
19:20 Analysis - So Many Meaty Riffs
21:20 Analysis - Blackened Vocals and Whistle Tones
25:30 Analysis - Momentary Uplifting Sound
33:42 Analysis - Series of Thoughts
34:15 Analysis - The Intro + Lyrical Dive
43:30 Analysis - Tying the Themes Together
45:26 Outro

[@hablibubli8648]

Hell yeah more Vektor! Terminal Redux is such a magnificent, epic, grand concept album. One of my favourites of all time. This whole album is worthy of a listen though it is a longer one. The story is fantastic that arguably starts with the title track of their 2nd album Outer Isolation (which is also a fantastic album). The main character is put to the Isolation project, shot off into space, by the ruling class for his crimes. During his Isolation his pod malfunctions and he gains free reign to travel the unknown part of space. He finds a mysterious atom of some sort that grants him immortality. Then we go on a big journey of revenge and later on philosophical pondering about the nature of human life and our place in the universe. Great stuff! This album is Vektors most ambitious and proggiest of them all. It has the basic, simple fun thrash riffing, epic yet melancholy black metal sections and proggy stuff all around. The main guy behind Vektor David DeSanto talked about Pink Floyd being an early influence in his sound which I think can be heard in Recharging the Void for example. Their debut, Black Future, is more so straight forward blankened thrash but has some outstanding deep cuts (pretty much all the long songs). Outer Isolation is more just technical thrash album, but incredible all the same. Hyper melodic, greatest variety in vocal styles and the bass is most prominent there than any other Vektor album. All of them worthy of checking out, but for me Vektor has just gotten better and better with every album. I would recommend the song Collapse and LCD (Liquid Crystal Disease from this album). Collapse being a pretty straight forward ballad for Vektor and LCD being the most high energy 'kick your teeth in' kinda song. Tetrastructural Minds from Outer Isolation is a must if you want a shorter 5 minute. It's crazy, electrifying and one of the best songs that Vektor has to offer.

[@CriticalReactions]

Interesting to know regarding the complexity of this album. It'll keep my expectations set properly if I ever dive into their other albums.

[@TBaggins96]

Please just do the whole album.

[@LoyaltotheNightsky]

This please

[@celestialcolosseum]

+1

[@sacredharmony9616]

This +

[@u.v.s.5583]

Somebody once said "the void must have pretty poor energy efficiency if it needs to be recharged less than one hour after having been fully charged."

[@Abyzdecannes]

This album should really be enjoyed in one go. It's an absolute BEAST of a concept album and listening to everything in one session really delivers

[@derrickdorry]

Others have said it, and it's true - the best way to experience this album is from start to finish. In a single sitting, with the lyrics to follow the story. It's fkn immense. Like a blackened-thrash-death space opera. Perfect album and one of the last to genuinely excite me in years.

[@DiegoDeschain]

Yeah, like other pointed out already, this album 100% warrants a full listen. It is superb, one of my favorite albums of all time in any genre.

[@mathiasdevy4411]

craaaazy drummer...crazy band

[@tommaw3204]

My favourite part of this album is actually the drumming performance. The common trend in most metal these days is to have the drumming be as perfect and robotic as possible to be indistinguishable from programmed drums. But on this album, there’s so many tiny dynamic and rhythmic imperfections in the drumming that at no-where throughout the album are you unaware that these drums are owing played furiously by a real human. Yet the imperfections are never so obvious or outstanding as to derail the beat nor make the drummer feel imperfect. In fact it’s very obvious that Blake Anderson is an extremely skilled drummer!

[@maaaaaap]

i've always felt that the drums on this were not so much written as in someone programming them for a demo and then the drummer playing that part and adding fills and other stuff, but rather the drummer just doing stuff naturally/improvising. feels like they are always flowing forward

[@mach2223]

This album is really great, I really like this song as a start of the concept album. It starts off with the protagonist attaining immortality after being put into the isolation project as a punishment for some sort of crime, which has him shot into a star, but he overrides the autopilot and discovers a strange particle in the cloud of an exploded star which grants him immortality. He then comes back to take revenge. The album then describes him taking over his planet to create a utopia in his eyes, but the power corrupts him and he becomes a tryannical, immortal ruler. In the end, in Collapse, he realises how much pain he caused to his world over, and decides to end his life by shooting himself into the star of his planet which was originally to be his demise all those years ago, as described in Recharging the Void. I really like the musical ideas that come back in the finale of the album from the opener, it's like they mirror each other, only the Charging the Void starts off angry and terrified of the looming fate of death in a fiery explosion, only getting hopeful when danger has been avoided, while Recharging the Void, the protagonist starts off scared yet determined to end this insanity of his own creation, with the song getting hopeful as he accepts his fate that he chose, only asking for his story not to be forgotten. It ends in a crescendo of peace and hope for the following generations. Note the musical ideas here, with the chord progression resolving to a beautiful harmonious sound, compared to the same chord progression at the end of Charging the Void resolving into a dissonant chord, signifying that the story has only begun, with terrible deeds looming ahead. I love the way they use dissonance and overall the instrumental part of the music to tell the story as much as the lyrics. This album really is a great listen in one go, it flows naturally like a grand cosmic opera. I wholeheartedly recommend anyone interested to sit down and give it those 73 minutes because in that time, it tells a story grander in scale and message than any movie that length.

[@jonathanhenderson9422]

This is really one album you need to hear in full. It was pretty massive when it hit in '16; certainly one of the candidates for the best metal album of the '10s and probably the best thrash metal album of the last 20 years (I dare say it almost singlehandedly reignited interest in that sub-genre). Such a shame they broke up after this. Their prior two albums were superb too and only lacked a bit of the refinement that they had on this one.

[@DiegoDeschain]

They have been back for a while now though, thank god for that, and they have recently signed with a different label as well, hopefully will have a new album next year. And yeah, their firt 3 albums are all 10/10 for me. This is like, 11/10 though, it is truly one of the most brilliant metal albums I've ever heard.

[@dante4500]

@@DiegoDeschain they were dropped off that label immediately lmao

[@Bikonito]

they broke up because the singer/lead guitarist is a wife beater lmao century media signed them without looking them up at all and less than 24h later they announced they let them go

[@maaaaaap]

@@Bikonito that sounds super bullshit on Century medias part. They 100% knew the Allegations(notice, just allegations, nobody was charged) prior to signing them. It was such big news and you cannot really read about the band without noticing them. They probably just shit themselves because some people started sending them messages about this. Also i dont think that's why they broke up, because their guitarist has publicly defended Disanto saying that his ex-wife was super toxic and the whole relationship just really messed up. so there's that.

[@henrywalton5967]

"Such a shame they broke up after this." Why do you make it sound like they aren't an active band now though? They're mid tour in europe as we speak.

[@janeg6759]

I added this band to my playlist after your last reaction because I really liked them on a first listen. I downloaded this album but haven't listened to it from start to finish in one sitting but it's on my list to do.

[@henrywalton5967]

Greatest album ever made imo

[@celestialcolosseum]

I recommend the whole album since it's really a journey to take but if you want to do other songs; -Collapse is an amazing song starting slow and developing later with a great take on the vocals later in the song. -Pillars of Sand is another favorite, the bass arpeggios towards the end is amazing and the main riff is always in my head. others are great as well LCD, Ultimate Artificer etc. but i think you would like these two more.

[@CheesecakeMilitia]

I don't usually listen to technical death but my friend showed me the part of this song at 7:53 and sold it to me as "Death Metal Lion King" which I very much appreciated. I know I need to go through and listen to the full album, but that one part is so good that I keep returning to it. I can't even really appreciate listening to the rest of the song because it turns into anticipation for that one part I love.

[@itspetahhh5304]

Theres barely even a smidge of Death metal in here This is tech thrash with some black metal inspiration

[@rayovac200]

@@itspetahhh5304 stop that

[@asmodai2025]

@@rayovac200 Why are you booing him? He is absolutely correct.

[@marklewis5033]

Awesome man, love your reactions and your breakdown/analysis, good stuff. Also if you're that surprised by the high pitched vocals, then just wait til you hear Outer Isolation lol

[@Brian-kl1gf]

Greetings again from New England.. Another one that really surprised me..I'm getting heavy Viovod vibes in the music while the vocals remind me of Lexi from Children of Bodom..Over all a solid song with some nice twists and turns.And I agree..youd need to be able to read and write music in order to compose something this intentional..Peace ✌️..Thx Bro

[@MMasterDE]

If you ever want to revisit black metal, here's a good list for some old-school Norwegian BM ("second wave"): Emperor - I am the Black Wizards Mayhem - Freezing Moon Burzum - Det Som En Gang Var Enslaved - Lifandi Lif Undir Hamri Immortal - Unsilent Storms in the North Abyss Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger Gorgoroth - Gorgoroth Dimmu Borgir - Alt Lys Er Svunnet Hen Kvist - Forbannet Være Jorden Jeg Går På Gehenna - The Shivering Voice of the Ghost Satyricon - Skyggedans Manes - Månens Natt Troll - Drep De Kristne Sort Vokter - Kveldstimer Arcturus - Rødt og Svart Ancient - The Call of the Absu Deep Some of these bands released albums with quite the different sound too, some quite innovative, but this is more the old-school classic stuff to really get an appreciation of the genre. Dimmu Borgir would later meet massive commercial success with more symphonic and electronic music, that might be worth a listen just for that. Songs like Mourning Palace, Progenies of the Great Apocalypse, and Kings of the Carnival Creation (or the more popular Puritania). Burzum, I know you listened to some early stuff, but what I suggested here is his next phase, the more well renowned. It has more ambient and trance/drone elements. He also has two more phases, see the song Dunkeltheit or Jesu Tod, which has a sound few has ever been close to replicating, and is more electronic and almost trance-like, but definitely BM. Then he started doing Dungeon Synth, and then he went back to metal and then some more Dungeon Synth. hehe Enslaved, they would go on to make softer music, idk, I've given up on that band, so don't really have any good suggestions for their progression, but I don't really think it's all that BM anymore anyway. They are still quite popular though. Immortal, from what you've heard they sounded more like a heavy metal band, hehe... Not so much in the past. They had several phases, but they actually started out with black n roll / near first wave bm, songs like The Call of the Wintermoon or Unholy Forces of Evil. Then they did a more heavy and cold change with this album, which they continued doing, another good example would be Blashyrkh - Mighty Ravendark (from Battles in the North). Then they went the heavy metal, almost back to black n roll, route I think you've heard. Darkthrone started out with almost death metal, then completely changed focus onto the sound rather than technique with their more primitive tracks, such as the one I suggested, before later doing almost punk rock. Satyricon went through some phases and became pretty commercial with their last stuff. Don't even want to recommend that, but they had another phase right before that, Mother North, would probably be a good pick for that. Manes stopped doing BM and went over to electronic and jazz or something. hehe Sort Vokter is a side project by Ildjarn. Ildjarns stuff can be rough and primal AF, especially the later stuff, but he also did some ambient. If you wanna hear/get a feel of the more primal stuff by Ildjarn, maybe try Mørkelagt Sti. Try to get a good quality version of the song I suggested, as modern codecs ruin most of the edge this song has. Gorgoroth got several phases, but honestly, I only enjoy the first. Their EP "Antichrist" is where I stop, and can't really tell you more about the later stuff, just never found the appeal. However, "Antichrist" EP is soo good and is what I suggested a track from. Early Emperor has it's own sound, and worth listening to in as high quality as you can. You'll probably notice the production is pretty ... low??? Well, I think the production is very much intentional and creates an atmosphere never really matched again. Later they would do more technical BM and cleaner sound. Example from next album would be The Loss & Curse of Reverence. Very epic music, taking you through a journey. Gehenna, this is goth bm, and I think they went on to do more goth rockish. Can't remember, I only listen to First Spell. :p

[@Ruija27]

Guitar effect pedals are joined in a line, rather than being a complicated web. From guitar to amp, the next pedal along the line affects the entire signal. (generally)

[@CriticalReactions]

Ah that's easier to understand. I can think about it like node based programming.

[@progperljungman8218]

Great reaction and analysis of a great band and song! They're kind of "Charging the Voivod" 😁 (Voivod being the first progressive thrash band and even among the first performers of progressive metal overall).

[@Brian-kl1gf]

Viovod hell yeah 🤘🤘

[@rolandweigert5169]

And a lot of Mekong Delta. I always tell others, it is a mix between death, voivod and Mekong Delta.

[@progperljungman8218]

@@rolandweigert5169 I'll check'em out! Edit: Ooops, already had. So many great bands...

[@ignoblesavage5559]

@@rolandweigert5169 mekong delta was brilliant...I'll forever love the self-titled album especially... nightmare patrol, the cure, the hut of baba yaga, etc

[@matteopriotto5131]

@@rolandweigert5169 and Аспид (Aspid) too. If you don't know them check them out, they were a soviet/russian prog thrash band from the late 80s/early 90s, they only released one album called Extravasation (Кровоизлияние in Russian) but damn that slaps. Very influential for the genre though very niche, but I guess prog thrash is niche to begin with.

[@blommen]

I Think your point on Black and thrash as different genres and production styles is interesting. To me, the tropes that distinguish different metal sub-genres can to a certain extent be isolated into areas that overlap or stand apart musically. The open fast paced tremolo picking which is a staple of Black metal distinguishes itself from The Palm muted fast paced galloping picking style which is a staple in thrash metal riffs. The overlap between The two sub-genres comes from The fast paced tempo. If we’re speaking a bit more hollisitcally, you could also point to the more theatrical and grandiose quality of BM setting itself apart from Thrash metals more punk/hardcore inspired leanings. Obviously we’re speaking in generalities here, as both genres have evolved and changed over the years, Black metal probably a bit more so than thrash. Part of what makes Terminal Redux so cool as a thrash metal album is how ambitiously it explores the in-between-Spaces between the different genres it operates in with thrash, prog and black and creates an almost wholly unique take on the interplay between Them.

[@zemaneiro292]

Terminal Redux is one of the best albums of all time, you need to check out

[@BittersweetDuality]

Lateralus and Terminal Redux are my 1 and 2 🤘

[@Cynips]

Spot on with the genre being progressive thrash.

[@TML0677]

Vocals are Black or Death. If this is trash then Death (band) is trash, and Cradle of filth is trash. Music is technical death with a bit higher tuning. So what here is exactly trash I ask you?

[@KrimsonRubio]

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! It finally happened!

[@TBaggins96]

David DiSanto writes all the music, lyrics, and plays guitar and vocals for the band and pulls it off very well live. Please continue to the next song, Cygnus Terminal. It's slower for the most part and contains some absolutely haunting melodies. It's a beautiful song, which isn't appropriate to say of thrash very often.

[@JvG0]

Vektor is definitely one of my favorite thrash bands. Much prefer Vektor's vocals to those of its competitors too (i.e. voivod).

[@christopherblowers443]

Just do the whole thing

[@VilicaBredPita]

do psychotropia by vektor, it's a perfect song

[@nathanlockhart3876]

Just an FYI… they tune up to F

[@CriticalReactions]

That's awesome! It's such a rarity for metal bands to tune up at all.

[@mikenieradko8877]

Psychotropia is IMO the best song from the "Terminal Redux" album. It's just straight riff goodness start to finish. If you want a good proggy older song from this band, then try "Forest of Legend" from the Black Future album.

[@shoresofpatmos]

Black Metal isnt only about production though. There are compositional rules so to speak. Almost all black metal incorporates Tremolo riffing in minor Keys and harsh screamed vocals along blast beats. There are exceptiions to the Rule though.

[@Silver_Something]

Vektor!! Damn!!!

[@Brian-kl1gf]

Man those lyrics read like a Gojira tune..very wordy with a lot of word play

[@lovemetal4884]

its a technical prog thrash with black/Death/speed metal elements

[@Lindisfarne666]

Thrash came first by about 10 years. 1981.

[@christopherblowers443]

I would love an album react to all albums. Than interview the lead singer/ writer/ Guitarist David d

[@triumphtinltcomicdg]

I wonder why Arcturus hasn't been on your channel yet...it's very strange lol...it's such an iconic band

[@CriticalReactions]

I might have done Master of Disguise during a livestream but I couldn't tell ya which one it was. They're in my watch history on KZbin but I highly doubt I checked them out on my own time given the album art. But yeah, haven't done a proper reaction to them yet.

[@triumphtinltcomicdg]

​@@CriticalReactions well "Disguised Masters" is a compilation album with remixes, so it's only for fans...for new ones a must check are these two classic ones 1. "Aspera Hiems Symfonia", it's black metal with folk and classic music influences, I would recommend "Du Nordavind" or "To Thou Who Dwellest In The Night" 2. "La Masquerade Infernale" it's alternative uhm 'theatrical'? metal, "The Chaos Path" would be a good example with vocal lines from Garm (Ulver) and Vortex (i.a. Dimmu Borgir)

[@immortalx50]

​@@CriticalReactions yeah, an Arcturus vid is totally worth doing, suggestions: Shipwrecked Pioneer, For To End Yet Again

[@MMasterDE]

I thought you had done Recharging the Void already? :D Would have loved to see your reaction to their latest stuff, Dead by Dawn. :) It's a bit more thrashy than this album though.

[@MMasterDE]

(Not a problem you did this one though :D ) Yes, blackened vocals, some dark themes, but overall the rhythm and composition is thrash, but also a bit tech, and this album is proggy, especially on the cords, as you say. It often feels like they have an endless supply of different riffs and variations of them. haha

[@MMasterDE]

And vocalist, to me anyway, especially considering the themes, sounds like a screeching alien. haha

[@CriticalReactions]

Yup, I've done Recharging as well. Here's the link if you're having trouble finding it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4bJqZZulNJqf80 They really do have an eclectic group of influences and styles in their music. Makes the unique in the world of metal.

[@jasonadams2]

Good music, unfortunate baggage with singer.

[@CriticalReactions]

Wasn't aware of that. I'll have to do some digging and see what's up.

[@horus7307]

What baggage? It's all cleared out that it wasn't his fault and he was abused. I don't understand how people could act that he has a price to pay.

[@horus7307]

People like you are the reason they got dropped from Nuclear Blast rn

[@MaaZeus]

@@horus7307Except there is no proof of that at all. The whole situation is just "He said she said". Since there is no legal action going on and the divorce proceedings have long been finalized, that is all we get.

[@horus7307]

@@MaaZeus And that is exactly the reason why you shouldn't care

[@PaulAtreidesXIII]

Most underrated band of all time

[@u.v.s.5583]

One of the best bands ever - yes. Most underrated? No.