Much craved (by me) new music from the London based prog-metal maestros sets the bar for all others! The new To-Mera EP Earthbound shows the band moving even further await for the sound of their much loved, and strong contender for best album ever, debut album Transcendental. Gone are the fast black metal esque blasting sections of their debut, replaced by the huge, thudding rhythmic chug that was built up on the last album, Delusions. Opening track ‘Mesmerised’ has an almost 80’s rock sound to it, with emphasis on the keyboard and old school heavy metal sounding guitar. There is so much funk in the chug of the follow up and title track, ‘Earthbound’, that you can’t help but nod your head in approval of the sheer craftsmanship of the song.

‘Arcane Solace’ kicks the tempo up and shows that the band can still right a damn heavy riff when they want to. The weird 3:4 polyrhythmic bit in the middle (I’m not sure if that was the right time signature, but that’s what it sounded like the guitar was doing to my untrained ears) is pure genius. Julie’s voice is sounding as striking and powerful as ever, elevating songs beyond what any other singer could hope to achieve. She sways from soft, fragile harmonies to soaring highs with the greatest of ease. The closing track ‘Another World’ takes all the elements that characterise this EP and bring them together in one beautiful passage, soothing choruses, funky chug, powerful driving sections; this is probably the best crafted song on the EP.

To me, To-Mera have certainly mellowed since their jittering, chaotic debut and are now more a solid block of chugging metallic prog with some obvious classic rock and jazz influences. For me songs like ‘Dreadful Angel’, ‘Obscure Oblivion’ and ‘Parfum’ will never be bettered (by anyone), but To-Mera have evolved into something far removed but still of supreme quality. I just have one complaint…not long enough!! Where’s the album?!?!

 Carl Sucharyna Thomas.