The word 'djent' is an onomatopoeia for a heavily palm-muted, distorted guitar chord. It was coined by Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, though generally made popular by Mansoor on the band's online forum and it was there that Kahney originally learned the technique. When Thordendal heard and commented on some of Kahney's riffs, it was all the encouragement he needed to forge ahead.
Embodying the international vibe of the genre, Frenchman Juilien Perier initially supplied vocals but the logistical difficulties meant that he could not join the band permanently. The line-up was completed by Jay Postones on Drums, James Monteith on Guitar and Amos Williams on Bass. Monteith and Williams brought along with them the vocalist of their previous band 209, Abisola Obasanya. TesseracT released a three-track demo with Obasanya on vocals. In 2009, the band parted ways with Obasanya and chose Dan Tompkins (SkyHarbor, In Colour, ex-First Signs of Frost, Piano) to take over vocal duties.
TesseracT's long-awaited debut album 'One' was released on September 12th 2011 with Tompkins on vocals.
On August 20th 2011, rumours began spreading that vocalist Daniel Tompkins had left the band, as TesseracT were seen performing with a different vocalist during a gig at the Crauford Arms in Milton Keynes. This was confirmed by the band on the 23rd, citing personal reasons for Daniel's departure. TesseracT introduced their new singer as Elliot Coleman (Zelliack, Of Man Not of Machine, ex-Sky Eats Airplane, ex-Of Legends). Daniel remains on good terms with his former band mates and stated that he enjoyed his time as TesseracT's vocalist. Elliot stated later that he would not move permanently to the UK and that joining TesseracT would not affect his other current projects.
TesseracT released one EP in with Coleman entitled 'Perspective' (released on May 22nd 2012, primarily featuring acoustic renditions of tracks from the band's debut album) before he too announced his departure from the band.
TesseracT announced in September 2012 that Coleman would be replaced by Ashe Austin O'Hara (Voices From the Fuselage, Nebulae). The band's second album 'Altered State' was released on May 27th 2013.
Vocalist Daniel Tompkins returned to the band in June 2014, replacing Austin on the band’s live album ‘Odyssey/Scala’. Following Tompkins’s return, TesseracT have released three full-length studio albums: Polaris in September 2015, Sonder in April 2018, and War of Being in September 2023.
Music
As stated in the band's official biography: "Fans will often focus on the quintet's time signatures and musical complexity, but TesseracT are far from an exclusionary exercise in tech/extreme prog metal pomposity. They fully embrace their experimental, prog sensibility without excessive indulgence or pretentiousness; delivering atmospheric, metallic songs that stir strong emotions and evoke powerful mental images. All of which, they argue, is at the core surprisingly simple".
2. Tesseract is a modern jazz quintet based out of Toronto, Canada. Alto Saxophonist Edwin Sheard, Tenor Saxophonist Leland Whitty, Guitarist Patrick O’Reilly, Bassist Julian Anderson-Bowes, and Drummer Derek Gray began playing together while studying at Humber College. They have continued this collaboration and can be seen regularly performing at venues across Toronto. Tesseract's debut CD, "Impossible Images", was released on February 29, 2012.
3. Tesseract is a democratically run jazz ensemble, formed in 2011, featuring the composing and playing talents of bassist Chris Hyson, saxophonist Matt Anderson, pianist Sam Leak and drummer Chris Draper.
Edén
TesseracT Lyrics
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The lyrics to TesseracT's song "Eden" are a commentary on the destructive nature of humanity and the way we exploit our environment and each other in order to satisfy our endless thirst for pleasure and power. The idea of souvenirs sustaining life is an ironic twist on the usual concept of souvenirs as mementos of happy memories - here, they are the remnants of lives wasted and sacrificed for material gain. The use of machinery dredging the sea is a powerful image of how easily we can destroy our planet and erase our own history, leaving only memories of our mistakes behind.
The repeated lines "All the time they lie to me, they suffocate / All the time they're suffering / So when will it end?" suggest a frustrated sense of powerlessness in the face of human greed and deceit. The song seems to be calling for an end to the cycle of destruction and a return to a more sustainable way of life that respects both the natural world and our own humanity.
Overall, "Eden" is a powerful and thought-provoking meditation on the state of our world and our responsibility to do better.
Line by Line Meaning
Souvenirs sustain life Souvenirs of flesh and bone
Memories keep us going, memories of our physical and emotional experiences
Waste them all for wealth and gain
We sacrifice our own memories for material success
When the time comes you'll know
Eventually we will realize the true cost of our actions
Machinery dredge the sea And all that's left is memory
Technology destroys nature, leaving behind only memories of what was lost
All the time they lie to me they suffocate All the time they're suffering
We are constantly deceived and oppressed by those in power
So when will it end?
We yearn for an end to the suffering and destruction
It breaks my heart to watch As we rip this world we have apart
The destruction of our planet is a painful and tragic thing to witness
Kill for pleasure Seven wonders of our history
We destroy for the thrill of it, even though we possess amazing achievements
Endless pleasure Satisfaction is reality
We are obsessed with pleasure and satisfaction, even if it's at the expense of others
Careful pleasure No protection of ancestry
We indulge in pleasure without considering the consequences for future generations
Guilty pleasure No
We should feel ashamed for our actions, but we don't
No Machinery (No) bled the sea (No) You protect (No) this misery (No) Sacrifice (No) Sacrifice
We need to stop using destructive machinery and start protecting the environment, but we refuse to make sacrifices
All the time they lie to me they suffocate All the time they're suffering
We are burdened with the knowledge that others are being oppressed and deceived
So when will it end?
We continue to hope for an end to the suffering and destruction
Machinery dredge the sea All that's left is memory
Our reliance on technology will ultimately lead to the destruction of the natural world
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: ALEC KAHNEY, AMOS WILLIAMS, DANIEL TOMPKINS, JAMES MONTEITH, JAMIE POSTONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind