I’d heard nothing about Tegmentum until I read a feature on them in the rather excellent Fistful of Metal magazine recently. Drawn in by the combination of guitarist Michael Ball, vocalist Chelsea Murphy (Dawn of Ouroboros, Caillieach Calling), bassist Kenji Tsunami and Fallujah drummer Andrew Baird, this promised to be a melding of styles, the crossover of progressive and technical death metal all bound up in a melting point of chaos and cosmic carnage. It doesn’t disappoint.
Over the eight tracks that stretch for around three-quarters of an hour, Tegmentum deliver in spades. It’s complex, the time signatures unorthodox and challenging. The bass pounds with relentless precision, driving the whole band forward as it grooves away. There is a vision that few artists can bring to life, and the inclusion of strings on tracks such as the classical intro piece “Innocuous” and first single “Accolades” simply adds to the overall impact.
It’s a truly blistering affair. The pummelling intensity of “Moments Ago” should get anyone with a pulse moving, such is the power that surges out of the speakers. The vocals are aggressive, bruisingly so, with Murphy’s potent style switching between full gruff and a cleaner, more refreshing form. The music throws in the SC-FI technicality of bands such as VoiVöd, Fallujah, Cryptic Shift, Rivers of Nihil and the like.
The cosmic theme of our concept album ‘Evolvement’ is an allegory for self-discovery that boldly explores an emotional spectrum of euphoric highs and very deep lows,” notes Michael Ball. “It represents a struggle with seemingly unknowable cosmic forces to create an emotional balance where light and dark elements can coexist.
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There are many layers to this onion, and it’s something that works on every level, The sequence from blistering full throttle to the dynamic clean vocals is incredible, providing a contrast that few can match. There is a melody throughout, a deep vein that is often hidden under the brutality of songs like “Amygdala”, the ferocious “Genetic Assimilation” or the masterful nine-and-a-half-minute closing track, “Gospel of Sand”. It’s an album that keeps you guessing, and despite the sheer heaviness that brings an aural assault to the cerebellum, Evolvement is an album that provides extra on every listen.
This isn’t going to be for everyone. I can’t see many who listen to Planet Rock diving headfirst into it for example. It’s complex, and as vocalist Murphy says, “you could say it is chaotic anxiety inducing metal”. In a world of multiple colours, this is a blinding show that will have you shielding your eyes yet opening the other senses to absorb a work of high quality from start to finish.
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Evolvement is out on August 25th
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