Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for TesseracT - Sonder (2018)

Tesseract has continued their progressive djent music reign! The different melodic tones make djent more than just about the deep downtuned rhythms. It's the kind of combo that unites heaviness and tranquility together, and it's once exemplified on their 4th album Sonder.

As usual, the vocal work of Daniel Tompkins earns him the spotlight with his clean singing and explosive screams. He can very well stand out in the lineup that still have their talents on display. The heavy drumming by Jay Postones is in good flow. Amos Williams assists in the rhythm section with his bass booms. The guitar duo of Acle Kahney and James Monteith provide both brutal and smooth tones to remember. So hold on to your seats, listeners...

"Luminary" begins the album as a short yet excellent djenty track! The rhythm and drums crash through before getting toned down for delicate cleans. Those smooth verses are in great contrast with the bombastic chorus, stirring up both catchiness and melody. "Maybe you’ll always be bad, maybe you'll always be the same." Next, "King" has intense range in the guitar, going from low djent to high shredding. The bass and drums create some fun rhythms. And the rest of the track can go from frantic to hammering. "Orbital" is a short gentle atmospheric track with serene vocals. Then the loudness rises for the next track...

"Juno"... What's that? More progressive djent?!? You've come to the right place. Enjoy the ride! But not as much of a ride as "Beneath My Skin", connected with the next track to make an epic with as much grandeur as their previous ones. That other track "Mirror Image" continues the idea of starting small in the instrumentation. Then the bass and drums come in, followed by the guitars, setting up the tempo and increasing it before the heavy climax.

"Smile" starts off in an electronic blur but quickly erupts into metal rage. "The Arrow" is the album's melancholic ending, though I find it amusing that they keep dropping the word "d*mn" in that soft opening verse. The bass and drums strike once more, with the guitars having some dreamy lightness.

Oh, if you're wondering what the word Sonder means, Tompkins describes it as "a name given to the seemingly ineffable emotions we experience when realizing that each of us is simultaneously living vivid and complex lives." It has originated as one of the made-up words from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. I think that name fits well with this offering of superb emotion and technical structures. Sonder is a reminder to appreciate the band's hard work and hope they reach greater heights!

Favorites: "Luminary", "Juno", "Beneath My Skin", "Mirror Image"