As a prologue to the review of TRANCENDENT’s debut album, I would like to share some thoughts regarding the term ‘’progressive metal’’.
There has been a period of time, late ‘80’s – early 90’s, when the progressive metal and power metal (especially US power metal), that was played by several bands or was appeared in certain albums, used to be very ‘’close’’ to each other and fans argued whether a band was playing power metal or progressive metal, because the boundaries were not so distinct. The ‘’technicality’’, of course, was present, as well as many changes in rhythm during songs and so forth and so on. All those ‘’typical’’ progressive elements were shining bright in many great albums and the music of many bands was characterized by the press or the fans as prog / power metal.
TRANCENDENT are hailing us from North Carolina of the United States and are the project of the guitarist David Ashe and the vocalist Paul Bowman. David Ashe has started his musical journey in early ‘90s and has participated in several rock and metal bands with a Christian direction lyric wise and this is the case for ‘’Awaken’’ as well, as per the message portrayed with the lyrics is concerned.
The cover art and the logo of the band is very nice and fitting, depicting an angelic warrior bearing two swords. I’d dare to assume, the one sword is for progressive metal and the other for power metal or one sword is for the powerful message of the lyrics and the other for the music itself. Anyone can imagine various interpretations.
Although the band is self-defining their music as progressive metal, my personal opinion is that they also lean to US power metal as well, which is really fine.
Some of the songs such as ‘’Free Your Soul’’, ‘’Unseen Battle’’ or the personal favorite ‘’Suffocate’’, ‘’Crack The Sky’’ are more ‘’direct’’ songs with US power metal elements, while others such as ‘’Beyond The Veil’’, ‘’Don’t Lie To Me’’, ‘’ Awaken’’, ‘’Here Comes The Reaper’’ are more inclined to the progressive metal character of the band.
In any case, this is an album with great songs, intricate song writing, really amazing / blistering riffs and awesome solos, giving a total of 8 beautiful compositions.
The voice of the Paul Bowman is an imposing one with a special timbre and intonation. In many songs he reminded me of the personal favorite USPM vocalist Wade Williams of LEATHER NUNN.
The vocal performance and the guitar work are the strongest assets of the album musically. An album that is going to like to all the fans who are very fond of the early era of DREAM THEATER, of FATES WARNING (‘’No Exit’’ era and later) or QUEENSRŸCHE (‘’Rage For Order’’ era and later) or fans of VENI DOMINE. It is definitely a really good album, that the aforementioned fans will especially appreciate.
‘’Awaken’’ will be released on the 26th of July 2024 by Roxx Records and will be available on CD.
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Check the discussion about the album in our forum pages.
