Transcendental is the debut album from UK
progressive metal
Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral ...
band
To-Mera. Their style is characterised by female vocals, long, multi-sectioned songs, heavy riffs and jazzy sections. The album has been likened to the works of bands such as
Symphony X
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Micha ...
,
SikTh,
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan was an American metalcore band. The band was formed in 1997 in Morris Plains, New Jersey by guitarist Ben Weinman, bassist Adam Doll, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, and drummer Chris Pennie. The band's use of odd time si ...
and
Opeth.
Work on the album
The album was recorded and mixed between May and July 2006 in Hungary (drums, vocals, guitars), England (keyboards, bass) and France (
Audio mixing
Audio mixing is the process by which multiple sounds are combined into one or more channels. In the process, a source's volume level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated or enhanced. This practical, aesthetic ...
and
mastering). The cover was created by
Eliran Kantor. The band liked the website he made for them so much that they took the album artwork directly from it.
The band chose Transcendental as the album title to reflect the emotional effects of their music. The idea that the title was chosen to hint at the ''
Transcendental Études
The ''Transcendental Études'' (french: Études d'exécution transcendante, links=no), S.139, are a set of twelve compositions for piano by Franz Liszt. They were published in 1852 as a revision of an 1837 set (which had not borne the title "d ...
'' written by Hungarian composer
Franz Liszt - which were considered some of the most technical musical pieces of their time - has been denied by the band.
Track listing
#"Traces" - 3:13
#"Blood" - 5:36 (partly written in Hungarian)
#"Dreadful Angel" - 6:52
#"Phantoms" - 7:18
#"Born of Ashes" - 7:04
#"Parfum" - 6:32
#"Obscure Oblivion" - 6:17
#"Realm of Dreams" - 9:44
Credits
*
Julie Kiss - Vocals
*
Thomas MacLean
Tom MacLean is an English progressive metal multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the guitarist of To-Mera and as the former bassist of Haken. MacLean was taught the classical guitar at the age of 10 and changed to electric at 14. It was not ...
- Guitar
*
Lee Barrett - Bass
*
Hugo Sheppard - Keyboards
*
Akos Pirisi - Drums
Release history
The album was released on 11 September 2006 in Europe and 3 October 2006 in the US.
References
External links
Transcendental lyricsEliran Kantor
{{Authority control
2006 debut albums
Candlelight Records albums
To-Mera albums
Albums with cover art by Eliran Kantor