Album Rating: 3.0

I can't disagree with your main point, after a few album listens I'm not finding much that stands out. I'll find myself bobbing along to songs here and there but it's mostly samey.

Album Rating: 4.5

To each their own. This seems to be a divisive one so far.



I listened to half of it in my car, a low bitrate version with cruddy car speakers, and, like Altered State, thought, "where's the hooks, the melody?" 5 hours later I put on my AS50s (somehow they get some flak, but they're top-notch on-ears.) and really gave it a loud, fair listen with my full attention. Blown away. It's one of the most lush, textured, emotive albums I've ever heard. Not as immediately catchy and 100% melodic like Altered State, but rather a punchy and gorgeous and atmospheric mix of elements from both albums use to form something new.



Utopia's subtle organ a la Metroid Prime synths and punchy ending make that track stand out, alongside Tourniquet, which might be the best song I've heard in years. This is easily their best work, for me. Superb. Can't wait to see this stuff live in November.



Nothing makes me happier than watching them evolve. I know a lot of people were hoping that with Dan' s return, we'd get One Pt. II. But this is so much more dynamic than that could have ever been. And this evolution of style has allowed them to become much more accessible at a time when they were pigeonholed into a genre that they, arguably, and inadvertently, helped launch. One that was going stale too.



A couple of weeks ago, I would just describe them simply as that awfully-named sub-genre "djent". Now I want to make comparisons to Karnivool, Tool, Faith No More, etc.



It's hard to say that this is simply better than Altered States, because they're entirely different things. Similar, and yet so different. Altered States is still in my top 10 of all time, but so is this, too. It's been a while since I've wanted to use so many superlatives & hyperbole in describing an album. This is perfect. I'm sad that there's an OK amount of people who this does nothing for, because anticipating a Tesseract album is unbearable. But this is everything I wanted it to be and way more.

Album Rating: 4.0

Hmmm, I kind of do wish Dan Tompkins carried over those really high soaring vocals he used in Skyharbor. He wasn't afraid to really let loose but not so much on this album.



Regardless of that, I still really enjoyed the listen. Its beautiful and simplistic.

Album Rating: 3.5

dan has an INSANE range, he just doesn't seem to utilize it on this

drumming also seems fairly weak throughout in comparison to a lot of Concealing Fate and Nocturne

Album Rating: 3.0

You sound so angry in this review but it's still a great read

I already find this more attention grabbing than Skyharbor's sophomore effort.

Album Rating: 3.0

dan has an INSANE range, he just doesn't seem to utilize it on this

drumming also seems fairly weak throughout in comparison to a lot of Concealing Fate and Nocturne

Dan is the man, no doubt - I really just feel like the songs weren't structured for him.

Tesseract's mix has a way of eating the drumming alive and I have no idea why. That was a gripe of mine with Altered State too.

You sound so angry in this review but it's still a great read

Me? Angry?

Album Rating: 4.0

I think "disappointed" would be a much better term



The more I listen to this the more I understand you're whole "songs not made for Dan" thing. Hopefully that will be fixed within time.

Album Rating: 4.0

So far I'm really digging this.

Altered State was solid, but I'm already digging this way more then I ever dug Altered State.

what a creative album title

Album Rating: 3.0

Messhugah clones for the music, Megadeth clones for the title

Album Rating: 4.0

Almost one whole way through. This album is definitely what the other two were missing: dynamics. Each song seems to have its own personality which is something I felt the second half of Altered State was missing.

Album Rating: 3.5

Messhugah clones for the music

Album Rating: 3.0

The bass playing is really cool, but the vocals are ruining this for me. I literally can't stand them.

Album Rating: 4.0

What about the vocals bugs you?

Album Rating: 5.0

Dan doesn't use his range in this album?



Hmm.. seven names, his range is insane in that chorus, and through the album actually.



I think this is better than altered.

Never liked Dan's contributions to TesseracT, especially after seeing what he accomplished with Skyharbor. This album seems like the afterthoughts of Altered State with a less desirable vocalist

Album Rating: 4.0

I think they definitely took a risk with the rapping. hahahh

Album Rating: 3.0

@ElegantElephant



You caught me, was really more of a pokeful jab at djent than TesseracT. Liking what I've heard off of this, but I've only heard the first bit, and Altered State I love for about 4 tracks until it gets too repetitive for me