TesseracT have taken the djent blueprint and, barring occasional plunges into riff soup, have re-engineered it into a living, breathing, emotive display of rousing poly-prog.
After an impressive debut, Tesseract return with Altered State, a sophomore effort that finds the band expanding its progressive metal sound in a bigger, more ambitious direction.
After the loss of two singers it's difficult to imagine how Tesseract could find a third who would be as good as those preceding him. But heAfter the loss of two singers it's difficult to imagine how Tesseract could find a third who would be as good as those preceding him. But he is. In fact, in many ways this is the voice the band should have always had. While I miss some of the impassioned screams from their first release, the vocals on Altered State have become an instrument unto themselves, and an important one at that.
Similarly, I miss some of the more grinding, almost nineties, heavy moments from the first album, but that doesn't mean this album doesn't hint at what came before. It's just different. It's bigger. It's broader. And it's altogether spectacular.
You want interesting come on in. You want unexpected take a seat. You want soft they got time for you. You want heavy yep, your ears will bleed. You want random time frames that'll have you spend multiple listens just trying to understand how the different instruments fit together, let alone stay focused on what they're doing you are in the right place.
Stop wondering whether you should listen to this masterpiece and just settle down with some great speakers/headphones, put your feet up and go on the journey. Altered State is not a collection of songs, it is one piece of music conveniently sliced up for you listening pleasure.
I can't wait to see what they come up with next time.…Collapse
They have spent a lot of hard work on this. Everything about it is balanced perfectly and every song is flawless. I have listened to it nonThey have spent a lot of hard work on this. Everything about it is balanced perfectly and every song is flawless. I have listened to it non stop for the last 2 and a bit years and i still don't get tired listening to any song. My favourite album ever. Listen to it to fully appreciate it's brilliance!…Expand
Absolutely most promising progressive metal bands. Altered State is pretty consistent, hard hitting but very emotional and lyrically greatAbsolutely most promising progressive metal bands. Altered State is pretty consistent, hard hitting but very emotional and lyrically great album. They have such a big potential to become absolute legends which will be counted with Dream Theater as masters of progressive music.…Expand
The new singer has an angelic voice indeed. There are a lot of vocal hooks to get stuck in your head. The instrumental part seems not soThe new singer has an angelic voice indeed. There are a lot of vocal hooks to get stuck in your head. The instrumental part seems not so bright as on "One" but maybe the awesome vocals just take all the attention while you're listeniing. Probably this is one of the best prog-rock/metal albums of the year.…Expand
Fantastic album. As someone who didn't listen to Tesseract's first album, "One", "Altered State" was mind-blowing. From the guitar tones toFantastic album. As someone who didn't listen to Tesseract's first album, "One", "Altered State" was mind-blowing. From the guitar tones to the groove, to Ashe's amazing vocal range, it was a non-stop journey of awesomeness. The use of saxophone on the tracks 'Calabi-Yau' and 'Embers' was a great addition. Absolutely recommended.…Expand
Having listened to the earlier stuff, I wasn't very impressed. I thought they were too based on syncopation and the chugging sound that hasHaving listened to the earlier stuff, I wasn't very impressed. I thought they were too based on syncopation and the chugging sound that has become synonymous with 'djent'. All of which I thought were over used. I was also not tat impressed by the lacklustre vocals provided by Daniel Tompkins.
After some convincing, I finally gave them another try with Altered State. And I think they got it right, Ashe O'Hara bought that one thing that was missing from the band which seemed to bring something extra out of the other members. I feel this album will go down in history as the best of all their releases previously and to come. Not just because of the addition of Ashe, but because it bought out something I didn't think that the band had in them, a sound other than the typicality of 'djent'.…Expand
