TesseracT Have a “Messenger” for You

TesseracT’s 2013 album Altered State was a sleeper whose appeal grew leaps and bounds the more I listened to it. Even back in 2013 the temptation was great to write off anything with Meshuggah-esque chugs and pristine, atmospheric cleans — and that temptation is even greater two years later — but it only took me a couple listens to realize how much Altered State had to offer in the way of that ever-important bastion of music… songwriting. It was absolutely TesseracT’s best work to date.

The Brit tech metallers will return this fall with Polaris, their first release for new label eOne and their second with vocalist Dan Tompkins, after Ashe O’Hara kept his seat warm last time around following Tompkins’ performance on 2011’s One. And now they’ve released a lyric video for “Messenger,” the first song we’re hearing from the album.

Knee jerk reaction: it’s not as instantly catchy as “Nocturne,” Altered State’s first single, and I prefer Ashe’s vocals to Tompkins’ (which I knew already to be the case).

But. BUT! I’m on listen #2 now, and I already like it more than I did on listen #1. Plus, see previous comment about Altered State taking a minute to grow on me. So let’s not judge too quick, OK?

Polaris comes out on September 28th.