Tesseract: Of Matter – new video

“Imperfection you will find / Look close enough / Tear off the mask I need… I don’t begin to proclaim that I know… Bless my lips for the first time before you don’t…” sings Ashe O’Hara in TESSERACT video ‘Of Matter’ which does not make me struggle with my conscience (or make me remember that terrible movie called “Prometheus” – see below). ‘Of Matter’ comes off the group's second album ‘Altered State’ which did very well for them, debuting at number 94 on the Billboard Top 200 and at number 4 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Issued through Century Media Records in May 2013, ‘Altered State’ was produced, mixed and mastered by the band's guitarist Acle Kahney and bassist Amos Williams at their own 4D Sounds studio in Milton Keynes, England. TESSERACT's first full-length recording with new vocalist Ashe O’Hara, was also commented on as “a follow-up album that doesn’t just live up to their debut, but blows it out of the water” by Gregory Heaney, AllMusic (more here). The album is available as a limited special edition double CD including the album's instrumental version, as a double LP (in different vinyl color options), as a standard CD and as digital download. Kindly shop here (CM Disto Europe) and here (CM Disto North America), via iTunes or Amazon. As explained by Century Media, ‘Altered State’ is not just the second TESSERACT album; it is also a valedictory statement from a band that have always followed their own path and aimed higher than the vast majority of their supposed peers:

“For whatever reason, we’ve always felt a little out of context to our friends and peers,” [elaborated bassist Amos Williams (and he may just as well be describing yours truly, heh)] “I’m sure everyone feels that, but let’s just say we’ve never quite fit. This has been a blessing for us creatively, as it has allowed us a certain freedom. As always, on this album there appears to be a rule of contradictions. Although things are less hectic than before, they are also far more delicate and tricky. The impact is less explosive, but more shattering as a result. Mood, atmosphere, melody, and experiment are the main focus. Although it may have gone off on its own journey, it is still TESSERACT somehow."

Formed in 2003 as a studio project for guitarist Acle Kahney, TESSERACT's line-up was completed by 2007 with Jay Postones on drums, James Monteith on guitar, Amos Williams on bass and Abisola Obasanya on vocals. In 2009, Daniel Tompkins took over vocal duties and the band recorded their debut full-length ‘One’, which was released in 2011 through Century Media Records: “But perhaps most impressive of all is how naturally these many elements are meshed together, not to mention the uplifting emotions they convey against such oppressive prog metal backdrops,” wrote Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic (more here). In 2012, TESSERACT recorded ‘Perspective’ EP, with new vocalist Elliot Coleman who left the band mere weeks after the EP's release.

TESSERACT features: Acle Kahney – guitar, Amos Williams – bass, Jay Postones – drums, James Monteith – guitars and Ashe O’Hara – vocals