Tempus Fusion
Formed in 2009, Tempus Fusion are a project which takes on the progressive metal scene with their unique blend of tranquil cleans through to intensely heavy blasts. Due to be releasing their new record To End It All on November the 19th 2012, the guys over at Skratch The Surface were kind enough to send us through a copy to check out to see what we thought of things. Having already achieved a slot at Bloodstock 2012, this is a band that’s on the up, ready to be break, and one to check out – so I hit play to see how things were sounding!
As We March To The Fields Of War gets things going on the record and immediately sets the scene as dark, ominous and yet somehow intriguing. Fading into being through electronic elements and sound effects, the synth line seems to pave the way onwards, backed up by these electronic elements and forming a sound which is different and unexpected, the sort of thing which is going to lure you in to listen, just to see what’s coming. Acting as an intro track effectively, the track paves the way for Abandon All Hope to come in to start the album properly, kicking into being with rolling drums, pounding guitar lines and a real sense of devastation and distortion. Despite this all out approach, there’s also a serious dose of melody thrown into the mix, allowing the track to sound heavy and full on whilst still managing to keep a real sense of accessibility in things. Soaring lead lines, pummelling drums and roving bass lines all form together to keep this track alive, leading into the introduction of the vocals, bringing about a real sense of the progressive metal that these guys are striving to achieve. The vocals add in contrast after contrast through the track, sometimes adopting a clean yet powerful approach, and at other times roaring to fully accentuate the track, it’s a mix which is impossible to resist. Roving between full on and laid back throughout the track, the opening moments of this album certainly suggest good things, immediately suggesting that this is a band that we need to keep on our radars.
The Baying Of The Wolf comes in to take the lead next and doesn’t offer up any elaborate introductions or lead in sections, instead launching straight into a hammering melee of guitar lines, roving bass rhythms and syncopated drums. Once again contrasting the vocals throughout, there’s a real sense here that this is the prog stylings that the band are trying to achieve, matching the expected style of music and yet somehow stamping their own unique take onto the mix, showing that when it comes to progressive metal, it’s possible to still sound fresh, new and exciting. This was a track which I think is going to be incredible live, definitely one to check out. To End It All I brings about the first of three tracks of this name, almost acting as a showcase for the style of the band and showing that there’s more to these guys than meets the eye. Powerful guitar work combines with rolling drums to form a sound which is heavy yet melodic, intriguing and foreboding at the same time. This ability to combine hammering riffs with soaring lead lines, rolling drums and a rib trembling bass line is the signature of Tempus Fusion, throwing in surprises at every turn and keeping you guessing as to what’s to come. Clean vocals combine with the soaring backing line here to elevate this track to a whole new level, presenting us with the first part of three and immediately setting the bar at a new high.
To End It All II seems to alter the style a little to get things going, fading out to a basic guitar and electronic level before ushering that heavy assed riff once again. Once again refusing to follow convention and instead, opting to craft their own path through progressive metal, this is a track which you can’t second guess, there’s too much going on and too many twists and turns which keep the track alive, it’s like the band have decided to produce something which is anything but simple, and the result is here to be heard. It’s no surprise then that To End It All III is another display of what they’re capable of, showing that when a band understand progressive metal the result can be spectacular. The one sheet for the guys said they were like a metal version of Pink Floyd, and listening to this track it’s easy to see the comparison – heavy guitars combine with rolling drums, pounding bass lines and a sense of a combination of Devin Townsend with Dream Theater going on in the mix – it’s a sound I’ve never come across before but one I know I want to hear a hell of a lot more of.
This Automated Nightmare fades out the sound once again initially, allowing you a moment to rest to take on board everything you’ve heard so far and showing that it’s not always all about the power. Adopting an almost eastern style sound initially, the clean vocals lead the track onwards, forging together with the backing music and forming a sound which isn’t heavy, but is uplifting and the sort of thing that develops as it grows. Throwing in some heavier elements, this is a track which had me dumbfounded when I heard it, one where I genuinely stopped and listened, shivers running down my back and arms as the soaring vocals combined with the hard hitting guitar tones, adding in an emotional element but continuing to keep the track powerful and developing throughout. Listening to it I found myself gazing out the window just taking it all in, allowing the mix to envelop me, and if I’m honest there’s only one word I could think of as it played out – wow…..I mean wow……just wow – this is a track that you have to hear to believe just how incredible it really is.
Mnemonic comes up next, once again fading out for the beginning of the track and allowing a sense of calm and reflection to come in, breaking through the heavy moments of the previous track and ushering in a new sense of soft guitars and calming emotion. Gradually building up through the track we’re soon thrust back into the heavy assed world of Tempus Fusion in full force, hammering out a riff designed to get people moving and accompanying it with a solid drum backing, the track is once again melodic and full of hooks, yet holds more power and distortion than before, showing that sometimes, heavier is just as good as softer! It’s only left then to The Predators Are Here to close the album, finishing on an electronic introduction to the track and showing that there’s a lot more to come from these guys. As a finishing track this does what it should, leaving the listener wanting more but suggesting there’s still a hell of a lot to come from the guys. It’s a heavy close to what’s been one hell of an album.
I don’t know what to say about Tempus Fusion other than get out there and check these guys out. There’s going to be those that say progressive metal is on its way out, but this is a band that are about to change all of that, showing us that when it comes to music, understanding their songs and presenting us with an album that’s going to change your life, Tempus Fusion have got it all under control. I don’t know what it was about This Automated Nightmare, but to me there’s a real chance that that track is going to be a Bill And Ted moment, the sort of track which people hear and then forget about everything else, the sort of track which will change lives from here on, but also a track which comes on an album which is solid from start to finish.
In summary, wow. More please.
To End It All from Tempus Fusion is due out on the 19th of November 2012, make sure you get it!
To find out more about Tempus Fusion, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
As We March To The Fields Of War gets things going on the record and immediately sets the scene as dark, ominous and yet somehow intriguing. Fading into being through electronic elements and sound effects, the synth line seems to pave the way onwards, backed up by these electronic elements and forming a sound which is different and unexpected, the sort of thing which is going to lure you in to listen, just to see what’s coming. Acting as an intro track effectively, the track paves the way for Abandon All Hope to come in to start the album properly, kicking into being with rolling drums, pounding guitar lines and a real sense of devastation and distortion. Despite this all out approach, there’s also a serious dose of melody thrown into the mix, allowing the track to sound heavy and full on whilst still managing to keep a real sense of accessibility in things. Soaring lead lines, pummelling drums and roving bass lines all form together to keep this track alive, leading into the introduction of the vocals, bringing about a real sense of the progressive metal that these guys are striving to achieve. The vocals add in contrast after contrast through the track, sometimes adopting a clean yet powerful approach, and at other times roaring to fully accentuate the track, it’s a mix which is impossible to resist. Roving between full on and laid back throughout the track, the opening moments of this album certainly suggest good things, immediately suggesting that this is a band that we need to keep on our radars.
The Baying Of The Wolf comes in to take the lead next and doesn’t offer up any elaborate introductions or lead in sections, instead launching straight into a hammering melee of guitar lines, roving bass rhythms and syncopated drums. Once again contrasting the vocals throughout, there’s a real sense here that this is the prog stylings that the band are trying to achieve, matching the expected style of music and yet somehow stamping their own unique take onto the mix, showing that when it comes to progressive metal, it’s possible to still sound fresh, new and exciting. This was a track which I think is going to be incredible live, definitely one to check out. To End It All I brings about the first of three tracks of this name, almost acting as a showcase for the style of the band and showing that there’s more to these guys than meets the eye. Powerful guitar work combines with rolling drums to form a sound which is heavy yet melodic, intriguing and foreboding at the same time. This ability to combine hammering riffs with soaring lead lines, rolling drums and a rib trembling bass line is the signature of Tempus Fusion, throwing in surprises at every turn and keeping you guessing as to what’s to come. Clean vocals combine with the soaring backing line here to elevate this track to a whole new level, presenting us with the first part of three and immediately setting the bar at a new high.
To End It All II seems to alter the style a little to get things going, fading out to a basic guitar and electronic level before ushering that heavy assed riff once again. Once again refusing to follow convention and instead, opting to craft their own path through progressive metal, this is a track which you can’t second guess, there’s too much going on and too many twists and turns which keep the track alive, it’s like the band have decided to produce something which is anything but simple, and the result is here to be heard. It’s no surprise then that To End It All III is another display of what they’re capable of, showing that when a band understand progressive metal the result can be spectacular. The one sheet for the guys said they were like a metal version of Pink Floyd, and listening to this track it’s easy to see the comparison – heavy guitars combine with rolling drums, pounding bass lines and a sense of a combination of Devin Townsend with Dream Theater going on in the mix – it’s a sound I’ve never come across before but one I know I want to hear a hell of a lot more of.
This Automated Nightmare fades out the sound once again initially, allowing you a moment to rest to take on board everything you’ve heard so far and showing that it’s not always all about the power. Adopting an almost eastern style sound initially, the clean vocals lead the track onwards, forging together with the backing music and forming a sound which isn’t heavy, but is uplifting and the sort of thing that develops as it grows. Throwing in some heavier elements, this is a track which had me dumbfounded when I heard it, one where I genuinely stopped and listened, shivers running down my back and arms as the soaring vocals combined with the hard hitting guitar tones, adding in an emotional element but continuing to keep the track powerful and developing throughout. Listening to it I found myself gazing out the window just taking it all in, allowing the mix to envelop me, and if I’m honest there’s only one word I could think of as it played out – wow…..I mean wow……just wow – this is a track that you have to hear to believe just how incredible it really is.
Mnemonic comes up next, once again fading out for the beginning of the track and allowing a sense of calm and reflection to come in, breaking through the heavy moments of the previous track and ushering in a new sense of soft guitars and calming emotion. Gradually building up through the track we’re soon thrust back into the heavy assed world of Tempus Fusion in full force, hammering out a riff designed to get people moving and accompanying it with a solid drum backing, the track is once again melodic and full of hooks, yet holds more power and distortion than before, showing that sometimes, heavier is just as good as softer! It’s only left then to The Predators Are Here to close the album, finishing on an electronic introduction to the track and showing that there’s a lot more to come from these guys. As a finishing track this does what it should, leaving the listener wanting more but suggesting there’s still a hell of a lot to come from the guys. It’s a heavy close to what’s been one hell of an album.
I don’t know what to say about Tempus Fusion other than get out there and check these guys out. There’s going to be those that say progressive metal is on its way out, but this is a band that are about to change all of that, showing us that when it comes to music, understanding their songs and presenting us with an album that’s going to change your life, Tempus Fusion have got it all under control. I don’t know what it was about This Automated Nightmare, but to me there’s a real chance that that track is going to be a Bill And Ted moment, the sort of track which people hear and then forget about everything else, the sort of track which will change lives from here on, but also a track which comes on an album which is solid from start to finish.
In summary, wow. More please.
To End It All from Tempus Fusion is due out on the 19th of November 2012, make sure you get it!
To find out more about Tempus Fusion, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls