aaamusic | On 20, Mar 2011

Three listens later, and TesseracT’s debut ‘One’ remains just as elusive as it did upon first impressions. On the one hand, we have definite metal of the new school: think the screamo shredding of Thursday. On the other hand, we have ethereal progressive blood running close to the surface.

Opener ‘Lament’ is both eye-opening and yet unfulfilling. Leading in with atmospheric, borderline new age soundscapes and a mystic-sounding vocal harmony/melody interplay, the sudden metal slam with brutal hardcore vocals is, well, brutal, and the churning guitar is decidedly abrasive. However, once the heavy metal bass groove/drum sprawl blossoms into a strong rhythm, the track is rather good. Moving on, ‘Nascent’ uses jangling guitar and slow, subtly anguished vocals to build a slow intro, before taking a freedive into full-on malevolence. Blending the artistic melodicism of doom metal with the frenetic push of hardcore, the riffs grind with concrete aggression, and the off-kilter yet tight drumming is incredible in its own right.

The band then really go prog on us: buried in the tracklisting is the five-part ‘Concealing Fate’ epic, previously released as an EP. ‘Acceptance’ blends the earlier mesmeric guitar jangle with a hardcore-styled assault that is more Cancer Bats than anything in its fast-paced battering and sheer downtuned volume, albeit with much more of an arthouse bent in their use of atmospherics and slow metal-barbed pounding to link the segments of attack, which lead fluidly onto the much more compact guttural chug of ‘Deception’. Rhythms bend and play with sinister precision, and the spacey operatic vocals return, to much better effect, leading into a passionate, epic midsection where everything the band are doing seems to explode slow-motion into furious multi-layered instrumentals. ‘The Impossible’ is a lighter track, bringing to mind Muse collaborating with early Thrice. Everything is still tuned to the key of savagery, but the heavy reverb loosens the tone of the instruments, even if the vocals occasionally delve into abrupt screamo barks. Nimble bass melodies dance towards Ozric Tentacles comparisons, and the sheer weight of the tracks is somewhat offset by flirtations with  sparser instrumentation and textural variations. However, the band just can’t quite shake off the same hardcore metal riff structure that looms over the entire collection of songs. ‘Perfection’ initially offers glacial respite and a moment to catch some breath, but this switches out to bleating “post hardcore”, trying to break out but not quite succeeding due to its inability to express itself beyond pushing the constant noise levels, albeit with an over-emotive clean vocals approach. Finale ‘Origin’ brings it all together somewhat, the sheer force of the instruments being reined in to allow the song itself room to breathe, and the layering of jangled melody with heavy pummelling creates a Rubik’s cube of a track for the ears to lap up as pacing plays with sparse percussive sections and full-on guitar roars.

In contrast, the fitful strangeness of ‘Sunrise’ is initially awkward in comparison to the series of seamless transitions, but the band’s attempts to do something a little unusual is far more fruitful as they dabble in contrasting blissful ethereal gossamer with atonal sonic avalaches and references to the core riffing of the EP. The hushed, slithering tones of the verses of ‘April’ are a crowning moment, and even in the onslaught of noise later on, there is a difference in the tonal nuance of the band’s approach, perhaps in choosing to venture into realms of clean vocals without bleating that really makes the track pop, and the rolling riffs flow from one to another with great effectiveness, not a single awkward moment despite the track’s dedication to pushing the band’s sound.

To close, the operatic keyboard metal of ‘Eden’, a track that for all its expressive riffing just doesn’t escape the shadow dogging earlier tracks, as the band fall into relying too heavily on repetition to pad out what could, if cut down a little, be an excellent track.

‘One’ most definitely has its moments. ‘April’ is a fascinating insight into TessercT’s undeniable potential and prowess. However, they suffer from a distinct tendency to get bogged down in the same heavy-tumult approach, despite obviously trying to push their boundaries. Although it creates a sense of continuity, there are times where listener fatigue sets in and as a result the album just simply isn’t as captivating as the listener or band wishes it could be.

Author: Katie H-Halinski