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TERMINAL FUNCTION

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal • Sweden


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Terminal Function biography
Swedish technical progressive metal act TERMINAL FUNCTION was originally formed in 1998. Guitarist Stefan Aronsson and drummer David Lindkvist decided to make a band that should play technically challenging metal music in the vein of their influences MESHUGGAH, ATHEIST, CYNIC and THEORY IN PRACTICE. With the addition of guitarist Mikael Almgren and vocalist Victor Larsson their vision started to take form.

Their first demo called "Time Bending Patterns" from 2002 was never released, but in 2003 they released a demo called "Time Bending Patterns 2003" which has some of the same songs but in new versions. The "The Brainshaped Mind" demo was released in 2004. In 2007, TERMINAL FUNCTION made a promo that was only sent to record companies and magazines.

In late 2007, American label Willowtip signed TERMINAL FUNCTION (after listening to the 2007 promo CD) and released their debut album "Measuring the Abstract" in November 2008.


TERMINAL FUNCTION is recommended to fans of technical progressive extreme metal. The music on "Measuring the Abstract" has both heavy chugging riffing in odd time signatures and jazzy acoustic parts and solos as well as both harsh and clean vocals. They were approved by the Prog Metal Team and are very highly recommended.

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TERMINAL FUNCTION discography


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TERMINAL FUNCTION top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.30 | 9 ratings
Measuring the Abstract
2008
3.18 | 3 ratings
Clockwork Sky
2015

TERMINAL FUNCTION Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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TERMINAL FUNCTION Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

TERMINAL FUNCTION Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 1 ratings
Krakstören
2017
3.10 | 2 ratings
The Great Liberator
2018

TERMINAL FUNCTION Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 The Great Liberator by TERMINAL FUNCTION album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 2018
3.10 | 2 ratings

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The Great Liberator
Terminal Function Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "The Great Liberator" is an EP release by Swedish technical/progressive metal act Terminal Function. The EP was independently released in September 2018. It´s the successor to the "Krakstören" EP from 2017. Terminal Function started out in 1998 and after recording and releasing three demos in the early 00s, the band released their debut full-length studio album "Measuring the Abstract" in 2008.

Stylistically the material on "The Great Liberator" is a technical and strongly Meshuggah influenced type of metal, with the occasional nod towards the more ethereal progressive metal sounds of Cynic. Terminal Function are exceptionally skilled and well playing and the four tracks on the 16:05 minutes long EP are all well crafted and powerful compositions. So there is no arguing that Terminal Function are both skilled musicians and composers, which only makes it that much more bewildering, that they chose to wear their Meshuggah influence so blatantly on their sleeve. They unfortunately cross into clone/worship territory and completely forget to nurse anything resembling a personal identity.

"The Great Liberator" is a high quality release on all other parameters. The songwriting is effectful and relatively memorable, the sound production is powerful and well sounding, suiting the material well, and the musical performances are on a high level too, but it´s beyond me how Terminal Function can be satisfied sounding this much like a Meshuggah clone. Having been active since 1998 I would have expected that they had at least tried to forge something a little more unique by now...but unfortunately no. I´ll rate this with a 3.5 star (70%) rating purely based on the quality of the product, but I can´t really recommend it, unless you´re a hardcore fan of Meshuggah and just can´t get enough of similar sounding material.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).

 Clockwork Sky by TERMINAL FUNCTION album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.18 | 3 ratings

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Clockwork Sky
Terminal Function Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars "Clockwork Sky" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Swedish technical extreme metal act Terminal Function. The album was released through Willowtip Records in September 2015. Terminal Function was formed in 1998 and released several demos before releasing their debut full-length studio album "Measuring The Abstract" in 2008. So it´s been 7 years between albums, which even in this day and age is a pretty long recording break. There´s been one lineup change since the debut as bassist Lars Söderberg has left the band. Guitarist Stefan Aronsson handles the bass on "Clockwork Sky".

The music on the album is technical extreme metal strongly influenced by fellow countrymen Meshuggah. At times to the point of "Clockwork Sky" being what I would characterize as a worship release. Thankfully Terminal Function do incorporate other elements too, that seperates them from their more famous countrymen, but there are overall more similarities than differences. Some of the differences include occasional use of clean vocals, keyboards, and the occasional use of more regular rhythms and riffs played in conventional time signatures. The similarities are heavy downtuned riffs and rhythms played in odd time signatures, relatively one-dimensional raw shouting vocals, and fusion/jazz oriented guitar solos.

The material on the 11 track, 40:41 minutes long album is generally well written and relatively catchy although it´s not necessarily memorable in the long run. The musicianship is on a high level on all posts, and it´s hard not to be impressed by what these guys play. They may not compose the most original sounding material, but they sure can play. The sound production is raw, powerful, and suits the music, so upon conclusion there are many positive things to say about "Clockwork Sky". The lack of an original style and a very obvious clone factor are negatives that drag my rating down though, and in the end a 3.5 star (70%) rating is warranted. If you are more forgiving than I am regarding the high clone factor, you can put another half star on top of that.

 Measuring the Abstract  by TERMINAL FUNCTION album cover Studio Album, 2008
4.30 | 9 ratings

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Measuring the Abstract
Terminal Function Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by UMUR
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars "Measuring the Abstract" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish technical/ progressive extreme metal act Terminal Function. The album was released through Willowtip Records in November 2008.

The music on the album is technical/progressive extreme metal with some jazzy Holdsworthian soloing (the solos are very similar to the style of playing byFredrik Thordendal from Meshuggah). The playing is generally very technically challenging and the tracks are complex (while still featuring an accessible vers/chorus element). The vocals are mostly aggressive but there are some clean parts and a few vocoder vocal parts too. While the music is pre-dominantly aggressive with fast and complex distorted riffing there are also some jazzy acoustic breaks and the above mentioned jazzy soloing in the music. The kind of semi-jazzy playing I associate with Cynic. There´re also keyboards in the music but they are mostly used to create atmosphere. Other references in addition to Meshuggah and Cynic are acts such as Atheist, Textures and especially fellow Swede progressive tech/extreme metal act Theory in Practice (the "The Armageddon Theories (1999)" album). There are 8 tracks on the album but "Auroral Display" is a 1:04 minutes long instrumental so there are actually only 7 "real" compositions on the album. The total playing time on "Measuring the Abstract" is 43:27 minutes though which is a perfect length for this kind of music IMO. All compositions are of high quality and the album appears consistent with a great flow.

The musicianship is excellent. These are very skilled musicians. Fast and varied drumming, great aggressive vocals (the clean vocals are not the best but they are decent) and razor sharp and intense riffing. The jazz element in their sound is also executed to perfection and adds the spice to their sound.

The production is excellent even though I could have wished that the aggressive vocals were a bit less processed. They are a bit over the top at times.

"Measuring the Abstract" is an excellent album in the progressive tech/extreme metal genre and fans of the above mentioned acts should definitely take a listen to this high quality album. It´s not the most original album I´ve heard in the genre but it´s a minor flaw that doesn´t take away the overall good impression I´ve gotten of Terminal Function. I´m sure their next album will show them developing a more personal sound. The genre so rarely sees new quality acts appear but I think we can safely expect great things from Terminal Function in the future. For now this is a great introduction to this new act and "Measuring the Abstract" fully deserves a 4 star (80%) rating.

 Measuring the Abstract  by TERMINAL FUNCTION album cover Studio Album, 2008
4.30 | 9 ratings

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Measuring the Abstract
Terminal Function Tech/Extreme Prog Metal

Review by metallica_fan32

5 stars There must be something in the water in Sweden, because they have been regularly cranking out quality metal acts for about twenty years now. Terminal Function are the latest addition to the Swedish roster, and they manage to match or surpass many of their countrymen on Measuring the Abstract, their debut album.

The music here sounds like something that might be the result of a jam session between Focus-era Cynic and fellow Swedes Meshuggah. This is a group who definitely wear their influences on their sleeve, most notably in the solos, some of which almost sound as if they're flowing from the fingertips of Fredrik Thordendal himself, but the end result is so good it's impossible to view that as a fault.

One of the most striking aspects of this record is the maturity of the songwriting. They sound as refined as a band who have spent decades polishing their craft, although maybe this shouldn't be so surprising - the group formed in 1998 and have been working hard ever since. The music is very technical and aggressive for the most part, with occasional synthesizers and calm, discordant jazzy sections providing breaks from the madness. Melody is used parsimoniously to maximum effect - perhaps most evident on the fantastic 'Room 101', in which the erratic guitar assault combines with furious drumwork and frantic vocals, building towards insanity before relenting in the face of a hook- laden chorus constructed around some gorgeous harmonized vocals. The skill of each member is quite clear, but it's drummer David Lindkvist who shines the brightest, with his mastery of challenging polyrhythms and complex percussive acrobatics underscoring the chaos flawlessly. Also of note are the compelling lyrics, dealing with subjects ranging from experiments in extrasensory perception gone wrong ('Remote Views') to attempts at artificially mass-producing human beings through cloning ('Spawn'). A great deal of time was spent perfecting every aspect of this release, and it's evident in the final product.

In a time where the metal landscape is studded and marred by vast legions of clone bands, copycats and unoriginal derivatives, Terminal Function are a group that dare to innovate. They have not merely raised the bar, they have smashed it to pieces. Any self-respecting metal fan owes it to themselves to check this release out, as this is a group of the highest caliber that seem poised to break through as one of the definitive bands of our generation.

Thanks to UMUR and Plankowner for the artist addition.

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