For those of you scratching your heads in puzzlement, Terraphobia is a Michael Jelinic project. He spent time in Mortification as their guitarist, but that is getting ahead of us. So let’s go back to 1985 when he formed an original heavy metal band called Lethal Dose. The band released several demos between 1985 & 1993, and after several line up changes and a natural progression to a heavier style of metal, changed the name to Terraphobia. Late 1993 saw the first Terraphobia release ‘Product of Your Mind’ EP. Due to musical differences the singer and bass guitarist left to form a grunge band, leaving behind guitarist Michael Jelinic and drummer Damien Percy.
The next releases, ‘Natural Born Killer’ (1996) and ‘An Eye For An Eye’ (1997) saw Jelinic taking over the vocals with both release’s written, performed and produced by Jelinic. By late 1998 bass guitarist Suzi Reid and drummer Joe Plozza had joined the band, and soon Terraphobia were playing regularly in and around Melbourne, with a highlight playing at the Melbourne Metal Festival in October 1999.
In July 2001 Terraphobia’s first full length album ‘Enemy Within’ was released, recorded and produced by Jelinic. Then Jelinic joined Mortification, and recorded Relentless (2002), Brain Cleaner (2004), Erasing the Goblin (2006) and The Evil Addiction Destroying Machine (2009). Jelinic has written the music for some of Mortification’s modern classic’s including I’m Not your Commodity, Razorback and Livin’ Like A Zombie. During his stint with Mortification Jelinic has toured Europe several times as well as playing at the Revolution Metal Festival in South America.
After 10 years of silence, Terraphobia released ‘Evilution’ in 2011 and followed through with the sixth release, ‘Terrafication – The Mort Years’ (2015) being issued by Soundmass.
Michael Jelinic recruited two ex-Mortification drummers, Mike Forsberg and Damien Percy for his latest release and decided to re-record the seven songs that he wrote the music for, whilst in Mort. Their marketing tells you to “expect a feast of thrash/death metal swathed in the signature guitar playing that we all know and love from this talented musician, coupled with his intense and versatile vocal force”. And it certainly lives up to its billing with great technical musicianship and decent production to boot.
Reviewed by Peter John Willoughby
Rating: 7/10
Tracks:
1. Razorback
2. The Dead Shall Be Judged
3. I’m Not Your Commodity
4. Purest Intent
5. Way Truth Life
6. Your Time
7. Livin’ Like a Zombie
Musicians:
Mike Forsberg – Drums
Damien Percy – Drums
Mick Jelinic – Guitars & Steve Rowe impersonations
Record Label: Soundmass, April 2015
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Myspace
Buy the album here:
Holland: First Paradox
Norway: Nordic Mission
Video below: ‘Livin’ Like a Zombie’
Video below ‘Razorback’