Temic – Ceiba

Well, just under three years wasn’t too long to wait for a new Temic album. It doesn’t even seem that long, and I’m pleased to say that it was well worth the wait. This latest release “Ceiba” has eleven new tracks spanning a generous sixty-five minutes of top-notch progressive metal. “Ceiba”, as illustrated by the cover artwork, is a tree that grows throughout the tropics. To the Maya people of Central America, it was sacred. They believed that the vines hanging down from its limbs helped human souls ascend to the heavens.

This concept album explores loss and the difficult emotions that come with it, including pain, anger, fear, blame and silence. According to the band, it is more progressive than their debut release. During the writing process, all five members contributed to the final product. With that mountain of experience to hand it was destined to be a thing of grandeur.

As on the debut, the album opens with a brief track. A thunderclap ushers in ‘Asunder’, followed by six spoken lines over an eerie backdrop. This steadily intensifies before erupting into ‘Ashes’, where the band state their intent with absolute conviction. A driving riff propels the song, easing only for the infectious choruses, while still leaving room for blistering solos from Eric Gillette and Diego Tejeida. The video features new bassist Miguel Pereira (Withem, Big City)

‘Beyond the Voice’ moves at a slower pace but gains a spring in its step once it gets underway. Fredrik Bergersen Klemp’s vocals are masterful throughout, and not be outdone Eric notches up another scintillating lead solo.

The band clearly enjoys producing videos for its singles, and this album already has several. The first of these to be released accompanied the track ‘Ceased to Be’. This emotive song reflects on the ultimate loss: death. It’s no funeral march though, in fact it’s quite upbeat and a line in the lyrics may shine a light on why. “Veil grows thin, Ceiba awaits” which seems to suggest hope of an afterlife.

Taking things down a few levels, ‘Broken’ stands out as one of the album’s mellower, more laid-back tracks. Mourning the end of a codependent relationship, it is carried by little more than ghostly synths. This dreamy atmospheric song never really gets out of first gear and is the antithesis to some of the heavier numbers. There is a good mix of heavy and light material across the album, so it never sounds repetitive or monotonous.

‘Casting Stone’ depicts another tragic loss: strangers who might have become peaceful friends instead becoming enemies, usually over some petty issue. Complex, powerful riffs, staccato beats and slower chord progressions vie for space in this nine-minute mini-epic. Eric and Diego manage to squeeze in concise solos, while Fredrik and drummer Simen Sandnes navigate the track’s complexities with assured skill.

There’s a harsher edge to ‘See Myself’ even with some of the vocals. The song appears to concern mental health and the breakdown of it. The riffs are aggressive and fast paced but the choruses are catchy and there’s a slick guitar/keyboard battle. Changing down a few gears to a more passive approach ‘Parting the Waves Inside’ is lengthy and varied. I get the sense that this one is about recovery, perhaps from a breakdown. As it progresses the tone of the music becomes increasingly positive.

Offering another breather, ‘Night of Veils’ pairs Fredrik’s soft vocals with a gentle keyboard backing. This a short but sweet track culminating with Eric closing the track with a slow, impassioned solo full of sustained notes. The sombre mood continues in ‘Alone’ which reflects on the empty world of loneliness. The vocals are delivered with a hint of anguish, and the guitar solo is long and suitably expressive.

All good things must end, and the album closes with the epic ten-minute track ‘As Long as We Last’. It fades in serenely, rises and falls with gentle restraint, and eventually builds to full strength. Midway through, Eric adds another stunning lead break before the track continues to ebb and flow between mellow passages and heavier moments. This is all topped off with Mr Gillette delivering one final screaming flourish.

This is a band going from strength to strength and this album will help them stand out in the progressive metal world. If it takes three more years until the next album, so be it, I can wait, because it is bound to be worth it.

Track list:

1. Asunder
2. Ashes
3. Beyond the Voice
4. Ceased to be
5. Broken
6. Casting Stone
7. See Myself
8. Parting the Waves Inside
9. Night of Veils
10. Alone
11. As Long as we Last