Altered State
Tesseract · 2013
50 min · 10 tracks · progressive metal
Intricate soundscapes blend atmospheric instrumentation with complex rhythms, creating a sonic journey through the realms of progressive metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Of Matter – Proxy — Proxy sets the tone for the album with its ethereal ambiance and intricate guitar work, establishing a foundation for the thematic exploration to follow.
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Of Mind – Exile — Exile showcases the band's dynamic range, balancing heavy riffs with melodic passages that illustrate emotional depth and complexity within the concept.
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Of Reality – Palingenesis — Palingenesis serves as an interlude that encapsulates the album's themes of rebirth and transformation, highlighting Tesseract's ability to create mood through instrumental storytelling.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's ambitious structure and intricate songwriting create a compelling progressive metal experience.
What we noticed
- The album is divided into four distinct sections, each exploring a different thematic element, which contributes to its conceptual nature.
- Several tracks incorporate ambient interludes that serve as transitions between heavier segments, enhancing the album's atmospheric quality.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- cerebral soundscapes for deep focus
- wave-like pacing that evolves
- introspective listening in solitude
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2013, Altered State is Tesseract's second studio album, following their debut, One. This album marked a significant evolution in their sound, showcasing a more refined and expansive approach to progressive metal after the lineup change that brought in new vocalist Daniel Tompkins.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Periphery· Animals as Leaders· Between the Buried and Me
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Of Mind – Nocturne
The verses shift perspective mid-song, moving from introspection to addressing an external entity directly.
This perspective change creates a stark contrast that enhances the emotional intensity of the song, illustrating a struggle between internal conflict and external pressure.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Of Matter – Proxy 5:05
- 2 Of Matter – Retrospect 5:32
- 3 Of Matter – Resist 3:40
- 4 Of Mind – Nocturne 5:50
- 5 Of Mind – Exile 8:50
- 6 Of Reality – Eclipse 5:03
- 7 Of Reality – Palingenesis 2:46
- 8 Of Reality – Calabi-Yau 2:00
- 9 Of Energy – Singularity 8:21
- 10 Of Energy – Embers 3:36
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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