TEMIC · Ceiba | BLACK 2LP

Black double vinyl in gatefold sleeve with double-sided insert.

Background information about ''

True to their name, TEMIC are a dream come true for progheads all around the world. The international supergroup features current and former members of Devin Townsend, Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress, The Neal Morse Band, Haken, Shining and Maraton — and with Ceiba, they've delivered something truly staggering.

Much like TEMIC's first full-length statement, Ceiba can be traced back to theories around our own mortality. In Mayan culture, the titular tree is considered sacred for its connection to the earth, heaven and the underworld. As depicted by its lush cover artwork by Hicham Hamzi, the album hits like a bolt of lightning with the first of many earthshaking revelations. Heavy with loss and without any foreseeable hope on the horizon, "Ashes" rains down one thunderous riff after another, only for the dark clouds to lift like a veil amidst its rousing chorus. Like a root, loss has a deep hold over Ceiba. "Broken" mourns the end of a codependent relationship accompanied by little more than ghostly synths, a moment of breathtaking vulnerability that'll stop you dead in your tracks. But whether figurative or literal, the album treats loss not as an end but as one more stop along life's path. "The blood will testify / Your soul will never die", assures lead single "Ceased To Be", which crosses back and forth between prog's technical sorcery and divine melodies with an effortlessness that borders on the supernatural. No matter how deep the tracklist digs into philosophical soil, TEMIC continue to branch out in all directions. Supported by swaying leads, towering cleans and firm groove, the 10-minute closer "As Long As We Last" will stay with you long after its final epic solo fades into silence. With Ceiba, this supergroup has crafted a thunderous ode to progressive metal that demands to be heard.

For fans of:
Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Leprous, Haken, Caligula's Horse

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. Asunder
A2. Ashes
A3. Beyond the Voice
A4. Ceased To Be
B1. Broken
B2. Casting Stone

LP 2:
C1. See Myself
C2. Parting the Waves Inside
C3. Night of Veils
D1. Alone
D2. As Long As We Last

Manufacturer: Sasu Soundworks Sarl, 126 Boulevard Bara, Heliopolis 2, Lot B4, 13013 Marseille, France, Contact: www.season-of-mist.com