It’s been five long years since TesseracT released their last studio album Sonder in 2018, and although the band has remained active throughout this time – releasing jaw-dropping live album Portals – fans have been eager for more. Previously mentioned album Sonder had a run time of just 36 minutes, which could be seen as lackluster in a genre that regularly puts out releases that are better timed with a calendar than a stopwatch. However, the band has clearly used the time since to the fullest.
War of Being is over an hour of exceptionally well-written heavy prog metal, with all the hallmarks of the band’s signature sound. Yes, when the dreamy clean guitars dance around the ears and the smooth slap bass slides in, it’s unmistakably TesseracT. But there’s something in the water here – something new. Something extremely exciting. Seconds after the play button is pressed, a slowly rising flurry of drum hits approaches, paired with a quiet preview of the coming guitar riff. Drummer Jay Postones lets you know he’s ready to begin his educational experience in rhythm with a drum fill, before ‘Natural Disaster’ explodes into a whiplash-inducing groove scarcely felt since 2011’s One.
From the get-go, the band let you know this album won’t be anywhere near as straight forward or by the numbers as you may have thought it to be. Before it has even reached the two-minute mark, there have already been 3 main rhythms or grooves, each as tasty as the last, with vocalist Dan Tompkins incredible vocal acrobatics proving as formidable as any cranked amp or miked-up kit. Fans of the band’s early work will be absolutely delighted with War of Being, as the band dives head first into the depths of heaviness, with a liberal usage of eye-popping screams and an unapologetic approach to riffage. Like tasting your favourite dinner from childhood again, by the time second song ‘Echoes’ starts, you remember all too well why TesseracT are still king.
“There’s something in the water here – something new. Something extremely exciting.”
It’s not that the band’s previous works aren’t impressive albums (they were and still are) but it’s hard to put into words how ‘War of Being’ takes your highest expectations and runs with them, giving everything a TesseracT fan could ever want from an album. It’s extremely rare for an artist spoken about with such reverence to deliver such an immense payoff as this album does; something many bands never manage to do. As hard as this album hits, its restraint and catchiness are where it truly scores a home run. Dan Tompkins’ command of the voice is truly awe-inspiring, with accessible hooks in ‘Echoes’ and ‘The Grey’ and fearsome screams in songs like ‘War of Being’ and ‘Legion’ showing his mastery of vocals.
The latter is one of the finest songs on this album, showcasing one of Dan’s greatest ever vocal performances; incredible screams, insane high notes and breathy rasps, all performed tastefully. The call-back to ‘Mirror Image’ from Sonder was a wonderful choice in a song that feels like a spiritual successor of the last few album’s work. ‘War of Being’ feels like both a continuation and an expansion on all that has come before, with the ambience and melody that immerse the tracks feeling very akin to Polaris and Altered State.
The writing on War of Being is so well realised and detailed. Every layer, every note, every intricate pattern has been curated with the precision and passion of a great painter, with a perfect balance of simplicity and complexity that never makes the music feel lost or stretched thin. From the expertly-crafted basslines from Amos Williams, whose intelligent approach to fitting into the mix cannot be appreciated enough, to the mind-bending rhythmic expertise of Jay Postones, the band have presented a masterclass in writing meaningful and exciting music.
“Every layer, every note, every intricate pattern has been curated with the precision and passion of a great painter”
Showing a glimpse of the light in the darkness, ‘Tender’, as its name suggests, begins with soft, shimmering guitar arrangements from Acle Kahney and James Monteith, floating on a sea of subtle synths. TesseracT has always had an incredible sound, courtesy of Acle and his production wizardry, and War of Being showcases yet another example of how beautiful his production of the music is. The guitars sound beefier on the heavy parts and lighter, almost airy, on the quieter sections, but still sound more like traditional guitars than on previous albums, where some tones almost sounded more like synths. ‘Tender’ is a sweet middle point in the album, mixing up the heavy for some breath-taking passages reminiscent of softer prog bands like Anathema, but even this song isn’t complete without a heavy ending – featuring some truly evil riffs and blood-curdling screams.
Sirens is a very impressive track, with an opening that touches on the sound of late 90s/ early 2000s British alt music like Massive Attack and has arguably one of the most interesting and leftfield vocal & instrumental couplings as Dan’s dreamy voice, channelling Maynard James Keenan’s A Perfect Circle days, floats above Jay’s oddly-phrased drum hits. Through the album, Jay Postones proves himself once again the master of the drum kit, mobilising groove and sending it into battle. Despite every twist and turn of this chameleon of an album, he effortlessly changes tactics and style while keeping the whole thing on track; it’s seriously impressive.
‘Burden’ follows this up, opening with a sexy bass riff from low end master Amo, allowing him to come forth from the shadows for a moment. The song really harkens back to ‘Polaris’ and the crisp, clean, softer, pop-oriented song style that made that album so good for repeat listeners. The band shows more restraint in this song and saves the album from being all yin and no yang. It’s very pretty and provides a lovely coupling for ‘Sirens’, although it could maybe have done without as many prominent screams.
And finally, the album draws to its conclusion. It’s difficult to think how the band could have ended such an impressive and formidable album, which features so many sides to the band’s personality. Unfortunately, this is where the band stumble slightly. ‘Sacrifice’ contains some catchy vocal moments, but it’s also slightly diminished by leaning on the high screams and intricate drum grooves that had made other tracks enjoyable and stand out.
A long prog album calls for a special ending, and the band has even done it themselves before, with ‘Seven Names’ closing ‘Polaris’ with a heart-wrenching climax, but ‘Sacrifice’ falls short of the expectation of a song that could close such a brilliant work of art. This is a small issue when you consider the grandeur of what has just unfolded, and TesseracT prove wholeheartedly that they are still a force to be reckoned with. The release of 11-minute behemoth ‘War of Being’ as first single for the album, combined with the cinematic music videos and video game tease, promised fans of the band and indeed the genre, something legendary was on the way. They band have kept their word.