TO-MERA — Delusions (review)

TO-MERA — Delusions album cover Album · 2008 · Progressive Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
adg211288
This is To-Mera’s second album. Their debut Transcendental was, in my opinion, one of the strongest progressive metal albums of all time, not just an amazing debut. But with Delusions, if anything, the band have gone one better and produced a superior album.

Opening with The Lie, it’s good to hear that To-Mera have abandoned the idea of having an intro type track this time around, instead getting straight into a proper song. And what a cracker it is. Hearing a return of To-Mera’s heavy guitar tone is most welcome, but their sound is not a complete recycling of Transcendental (although there would be nothing wrong with that). Singer Julie Kiss has taken up a slightly difference approach to her vocals, heard most well when The Lie takes on one of To-Mera’s jazz sections. Suddenly the album does not sound metal at all, and I can imagine a scene of dimmed lights, a small bar in New Orleans during the time that jazz music originated. Now many metal bands could get away with such a thing (and even less could get away with the jazz section from Asylum) but To-Mera manage it, and they manage it spectacularly.

Playing on their strengths, the album brings out cracking song after cracking song, using the same formula and yet always managing to make each song have its own unique twist. Guitarist Tom MacLean once again asserts his status as an upcoming guitar god. Whatever may happen with To-Mera, the name Tom MacLean is one to watch. He composed the majority of the music on both To-Mera albums (Julie Kiss writes all lyrics), only aided on occasion by a bandmate, and with only a single song from either album that he holds no writing credit to (Delusions closer; Temptation). Julie Kiss once again displays both talents as a lyricist and a very versatile vocalist. The combined writing talents of the pair has the potential to take To-Mera to vast heights with progressive music’s devotees.

The strongest track here are easily, well actually the listener can take their own pick from these eight beauties. There is not a weak track on Delusions, nor anything mediocre or above average. From start to finish this album is a masterpiece, making that two masterpiece albums under To-Mera’s belt. I’d personally recommend The Lie, The Glory of a New Day and Inside the Hourglass above the others, but it really is hard to pinpoint what is superior when quality is as high as it already is. Consider myself highly impressed.

(Review originally written for Heavy Metal Haven)
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