<… Read Full Bio ↴To-Mera is a progressive metal band from London, U.K., formed in 2005.
To-Mera began life as a project of Julie Kiss (ex-Without Face) and Lee Barrett (ex-Extreme Noise Terror, Disgust, Mussolini Headkick). After a series of lineups, the band stabilised in early 2005, after Tom MacLean met Kiss and offered his services as a guitarist. Kiss then enlisted the help of Ákos Pirisi as drummer for the band, and work commenced on writing material for a demo.
The intention was to fuse the musical interests of each of the members within a dark and atmospheric framework. As a result, To-Mera's style can be described as a mixture of the assorted metal sub-genres, classical music, and jazz.
The demo received a positive response on the internet and in various print publications (including being awarded "demo of the month" in both Zero Tolerance and Organ magazines), the demo was finally picked up by U.K. label Candlelight, and the band were offered a deal.
Once a permanent keyboardist was found in the form of Hugo Sheppard, the band spent the winter 2005/2006 writing material for their debut album. Transcendental was recorded in May 2006 at locations in west Hungary and London, again with producer Brett Caldas-Lima at the reins, and released worldwide in September the same year. Shortly before its release it was decided that, in order to function as a fully active band, continuing with a drummer based abroad would be logistically impossible; the decision was taken to part ways with Pirisi and Paul Westwood was brought in as his replacement in time for the band's debut shows.
Later in 2007, keyboardist Sheppard left the band for personal reasons. Hen, the guitarist and keyboard player from ultra-prog metal band Haken, replaced Sheppard shortly afterwards.
To-Mera worked on the follow-up to Transcendental throughout 2007. The album, Delusions, was released on 18th February 2008. A few days later, bassist and founding member Lee Barrett announced his departure from the band, stating that he would be "unable to fulfill any possible future touring or musical commitments" due to his other work. A replacement was quickly found in Mark Harrington.
www.to-mera.com
Blood
To-Mera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lost my way as I found my place
In this damned
Playground of the universe
On the tracks of blood drops from my kin's veins
Once again
Idegen szavak
And as I turn back
I hear your cries, calling me, I hear you screaming my name
As I close my eyes and hide the past inside
Wishing there was nothing to remember you by
Felek, almomban itt voltal, ereztem a szivem meghasadt
Ereztem a lelkem szetszakadt, es igaz volt minden
Nem csak alom mely elvesz a reggellel
Once again
Idegen szavak
Ujra itt
And as I turn back
I hear your cries, calling me, I hear you screaming my name
As I close my eyes and hide the past inside
Wishing there was nothing to remember you by
Once again I am back here
With you inside this dream
And I try to believe
Trying to believe
To believe that I'm forgiven
That my tears are not in vein
And as I turn back
I hear your cries, calling me, I hear you screaming my name
As I close my eyes and hide the past inside
Wishing there was nothing to remember you by
The song "Blood" by To-Mera is a melancholic piece that deals with themes of loss, regret, and longing. The lyrics talk about a person who feels lost in the universe but has found solace in a place that is both faraway and near. However, the singer is haunted by the memory of their kin's blood being spilled, which acts as a reminder of their past mistakes. The song weaves together English and Hungarian lyrics, adding an enigmatic layer to the already mysterious and introspective nature of the song.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it likens the singer's feelings to being lost in a dream where they are haunted by their own guilt. The lyrics "I hear your cries, calling me, I hear you screaming my name / As I close my eyes and hide the past inside / Wishing there was nothing to remember you by" paint a picture of someone who is trying to forget their past but is unable to escape the memories that keep them tethered to it. The verse in Hungarian ("Felek, almomban itt voltal, ereztem a szivem meghasadt / Ereztem a lelkem szetszakadt, es igaz volt minden / Nem csak alom mely elvesz a reggellel") adds an extra layer of depth to the song, showcasing the singer's inner turmoil.
Overall, "Blood" is a poignant and heartfelt song that speaks to themes of grief, regret, and a longing for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Far away and oh so near
Despite being physically far away, the emotional connection to a person or memory is strong and near
I lost my way as I found my place
Becoming lost in life while simultaneously finding a sense of belonging or direction
In this damned Playground of the universe
Reference to life being a cruel yet necessary existence
On the tracks of blood drops from my kin's veins
A metaphor for feeling the weight of ancestral memories and trauma
Idegen szavak, Ujra itt
Repeating the phrase "foreign words" and "here again" in Hungarian, possibly alluding to a feeling of being out of place or disconnected
And as I turn back I hear your cries, calling me, I hear you screaming my name
The inability to escape the echoes of past traumas or relationships
As I close my eyes and hide the past inside, Wishing there was nothing to remember you by
Desire to forget or move on from painful memories or people
Felek, almomban itt voltal, ereztem a szivem meghasadt Ereztem a lelkem szetszakadt, es igaz volt minden Nem csak alom mely elvesz a reggellel
Expressing deep pain and a sense of truth within a dream or nightmare in Hungarian
Once again I am back here With you inside this dream And I try to believe Trying to believe To believe that I'm forgiven That my tears are not in vein
Revisiting feelings of guilt, forgiveness, and doubts while attempting to justify or validate one's emotions
That my tears are not in vein
Belief that emotional pain has a purpose or meaning
Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chagrin
Let me tell you something....Tom, the guitarist, is a class act. A true gem hidden among the masses.
RavenRyy
Not heard this song in years. Still blows me away.
John Jenkins
Still coming back to this in 2020, the allure of Julie's haunting voice.
A U
As with a lot of true talent, most of it is kept in the underground..... Such a shame, there isn't another band even close to achieving this sound with all the jazz/fusion incorporated elements, while remaining fully progressive metal. I've been a huge fan of To-mera for over 2 years now and I desperately hope they will return to the studio for another album... Exile is a masterpiece and I'd love to hear more of what they can cook up!
Ieshua Ibarra
Julie Kiss is a great mezzo-soprano, very good metal band
pesa kamaao
Ieshua Ibarra hjjh
Qwerty100
Her voice is too thin, nothing great about it.
Fern Synergy
Such a shame they never exploded onto the metal scene. Fantastic track!
DoctorX
coming back to this in 2021.... very underrated band.
Chagrin
Tom is not only an amazing guitarist, but one hell of a good guy. Used to chat with him a bunch back in the day, I'll always be a fan.