Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Terror

Rhythm Amongst the Chaos (2007)
Reaper Records

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on November 13th 2007

Rhythm Amongst the Chaos not only shows why Terror is on top of the pile in their own tough hardcore sub-subgenre, but that they have a decent amount of creativity continuing to run through their bones after several albums.

The title track and opener comes blasting out of the gates in their signature style -- fast and heavy, while proving the band have become considerably more articulate since the days of "fist to your fucking face." If anything, "Rhythm Amongst the Chaos" is actually lyrically reflective: "So many miles, / I've become part of the road. / Through every city, crossed every border, / [...] / I hear these streets; / they talk to me. / Through all their pain and broken dreams." It's not Plato, but there's a sense of deliberation and pensiveness here that's largely been void from much of Terror's catalog. However, the song retains their musically meaty, pounding and forward-moving charge well.

The rest of the EP can't quite match up to its powerful opener, but musicaly and lyrically they're definitely competent numbers that should ideally please their fans. Things shut down with a cover of Breakdown's "Kickback," with retro-sounding gang vocals and a guest appearance by Jedi Mind Tricks' Vinnie Paz, whose contribution actually helps cement a nice vocal dynamic to the song's conclusion.

If Terror can deliver on the promise of their holdover material here, recent criticisms regarding a possible musical deterioration on the band's part should be easily dismissed.

STREAM
Disconnected

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

victim (November 23, 2007)

Guys, I majored in philosophy. Plato was an asshole. The best description I've ever heard of Plato is that he's the direct ideological predecessor or William F Bucklyer. They both wax on endlessly about fables that never happened and never will.

"Understand" Plato? I'd rather have my head explode..which, incidentally, is the pre-req for understanding Plato.

bizzlebrizzle (November 15, 2007)

if you don't love Terror you really do suck.

Also I think this EP is their best stuff since Lowest of the Low, also that Dag Nasty cover rules, I really wish all of their songs sounded like them trying to cover Dag Nasty.

glasspipemurder (November 14, 2007)

Throwdown started as a joke band...they did their first split with Good Clean Fun. People liked it and they ran with it. Terror is fronted by Scott Vogel whose onstage diction consists of lines like "We need to elevate the maximum stagedive potential!", "Battlefield ignite!", and "Activate this dancefloor!". The lyrics and posture is part of their schtick. They thrive on how ridiculous it is.

contrarian (November 14, 2007)

I totally jive with where y'all are coming from, but I think it's speculative at best that Terror and Throwdown are "in on the joke."

Scruffy (November 14, 2007)

Naming a song "Disconnected" is the same thing as calling one "Satisfaction". Shouldn't be done anymore.

Archangel (November 13, 2007)

Ah, nothing like hearing high school students who read Book VII of the Republic try to talk about Plato. Scurry back to your Dan Brown books, now.

defianceohioequalslove (November 13, 2007)

This band is sooooooooooooooooooooo generic

inagreendase (November 13, 2007)

Contrarian, I think the point I was trying to make here is that it's less idiotic than their past material.

You can ask anyone who even remotely knows me -- they'll tell you I haven't been able to even stand Terror since I got into hardcore. However, they put out an admittedly solid release here, and I have to give kudos when it's due. Trust me, I might pan shitty bands less often than I used to but it's not because I'm scared.

I guarantee you haven't even heard this EP. And obviously those three bands you mentioned are on wayyyy different levels than Terror.

sugarfull (November 13, 2007)

I would argue with contrarian, but he did shout-out Melt Banana, so he wins regardless.

thus_spoke_sean (November 13, 2007)

have you read Plato? I have..small world, huh? Nothing great about Plato

Reading and understanding are two different things my friend. But that's ok, you probably aren't interested in understanding anyway.

bizzlebrizzle (November 13, 2007)

Terror rules

no_allegiances (November 13, 2007)

Scott Vogel is a legend.

GlassPipeMurder (November 13, 2007)

"punk" does not equal stupid
I agree, but I think in the grand scheme of things, each artist/song/lyrical style serves a different purpose. For example, when I listen to Fifteen, I know I'm not gonna get anything incredibly eloquent or poetic, but I still resonates with me because it matters to me personally. And you have to take into account that most of the bands like Terror, Throwdown, Casey Jones etc are in on the joke and their lyrics are intentionally constructed in such a way.

contrarian (November 13, 2007)

Victim: all Western culture starts with Plato. That includes the crappy music you read about on this board. Nothing great about Plato? What about being the first person to have 75% of the best ideas ever before everyone else? Reading Plato in "Philosophy for Dummies" doesn't count.

Glasspipe: "punk" does not equal stupid. Terror, the Casualties and My Chemical Romance should be held to the same standards as Fugazi, Melt Banana and Dillinger Four. If you'd prefer to eat a Big Mac over fillet mignon, that's your business. But then your business obviously hasn't shit to do with art.

victim (November 13, 2007)

Calling their lyrics not up to par with Plato is one of the vastest understatements in the history of music "journalism."

I'm not interested in this band but..have you read Plato? I have..small world, huh? Nothing great about Plato..

Cos (November 13, 2007)

Last time I heard these guys, they sounded like an Earth Crisis tribute band. "Tough hardcore?"

Pass.

GlassPipeMurder (November 13, 2007)

Calling their lyrics not up to par with Plato is one of the vastest understatements in the history of music "journalism."

You are entitled to your opinion, but I think you're taking it a little too seriously. 1)It's punk, 2)people are entitled to their opinions, and 3)punknews.org overall does an excellent job staying between the extremes of pitchfork and absolutepunk.net.

contrarian (November 13, 2007)

Terribly off-base review. This shit is still idiotic and derivative. Calling their lyrics not up to par with Plato is one of the vastest understatements in the history of music "journalism."

Also, the word "creativity" should never be applied to this crap. If I was any good at coding I guarantee you I could write a computer program that automatically composes music that sounds exactly like this "sub-subgenre." And it would probably be a lot better.

Certain staff members are rapidly losing their credibility in the way of music criticism as of late.