TERMINAL NATION - Holocene Extinction (Review)

Written by: Volt Thrower

Bootlickers beware: this album is not for you. But for anyone else who wants to see the institutions of systemic racism burnt to the ground, this is the revolutionary anthem for you. Rising from the red of Little Rock, Arkansas, Terminal Nation delivers a brutal sonic indictment of humanity with Holocene Extinction.

Right from the get-go, Terminal Nation establish a catchy death doom sound in "Cognitive Dissonance." Raspy howls devolve into a sickening “bleugh”, which sets things off in a beautiful direction. A crushing mosh call to close out the album opener is a damn fine start. "Arsenic 'Fucking' Death" kicks things up a notch with a tasty grind passage, also bringing in the first pit chant in “extinction of mankind!” If you can listen to this album without getting a single riff/line stuck in your head, I'll paypal you $100 (CDN, so not much). But seriously, this album is just littered with memorable hooks and quotable lines.

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I'm sure if you’re reading this, you're already familiar with the two singles, the title track and "Master Plan." I won't spend too much time on them, other than to highlight how good of a choice these tracks are to hype up the album. In just 4 and a half minutes you get a taste of everything the band has to offer: hooky death metal, neck breaking paced grind, and hardcore breakdowns built to be screamed in the pit. I've been stomping around the house for days, growling “You cannot save a world that refuses to be saved. Holocene Extinction!” until my throat hurts.

"Master Plan" is rightfully followed by a hefty dose of powerviolence in "Revenge," the aural equivalent of watching some nazi scum getting KO’d. The maniacal laugh afterwards is oddly comforting and a cherry on top of the opening run on the album. The two shortest tracks on the album, "Thirst to Burn"--which squeezes out a nasty hook in just 31 seconds--and "Leather Envy" bookend the longest player on Side A in "Orange Bottle Prison." A slow burner before it hits the gas, this track brings in some welcomed doomy atmosphere, while deranged barks hound the souls of big pharma execs. "Leather Envy" brings Side A to a close with some scathing grind, calling for “Death to all fuckin bootlickers!” 

Perhaps the only hiccup on the album is with side B opener "Expired Utopia." It's a nice doomy riff, which does offer a moment of reprieve and inject some atmosphere, but it ties for the longest track on the album when it didn't really need to. Especially after a vinyl flip it saps a bit of energy out of the overall flow. I feel like there's more than enough atmosphere on the album, the little things like the mini solo in "Orange Bottle Prison" and the intro of the following track "Death for Profit." Just nitpicking at this point.
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"Death for Profit" and "Caskets of the Poor" are both bangers that team up for a brutal takedown of the military industrial complex. An almost S.o.a.D. sounding breakdown of “Caskets of the Poor” absolutely rules. Building on those tracks is the highlight of side B in "Disciple of Deceit," a disgusting damnation of W.A.S.P. Christianity. One of the most vile “bleughs" transitioning into a breakdown following the searing line of “you wouldn't know oppression if it nailed you to the fucking cross” is one of my favorite musical moments of the year. Wrapping things up is "Age of Turmoil," a fitting ending, serving as a revolutionary war call. “¡No Pasarán!” They shall not pass. “The line in the sand has been drawn, what side will you be on?” I hope it's clear which side we here at Sleeping Village are on. Chinga la migra. Black Lives Matter. Fuck white supremacy and police brutality.
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Holocene Extinction is just an all-around monster of an album. A 35 minute diss track to mankind, and a loogie specifically in America's face. After the first listen through I was immediately drawn into the comparison to Wvrm's Colony Collapse. One of my favorite records of the year. Seeing Terminal Nation not only recommend the band but also interacting with them on social media has really hammered home that comparison. The lyrics about an uncomfortable reality, and the pure unbridled aggression make this a must listen. Not sure where it'll land yet, but easily a top 10 AotY for me.

Terminal Nation - Holocene Extinction will be released Aug. 7th through 20 Buck Spin.

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Terminal Nation can be found:
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