| Musical Style: Power/Progressive Metal | Produced By: Erik Tilling |
| Record Label: Roxx Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 8 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 42:00 |
As you know, were big fans of power/progressive metal at Angelic Warlord. We appreciate manner in which the genre draws upon the high tempos, strong melodies and double bass drumming to the former but also the lengthy songwriting, intricate time signatures and combining manifold musical forms of the latter. In other words, it adds up to a best of both worlds scenario!
Transcendent is the most recent band to benefit from a power and progressive metal coalescing. Tracing its origin to North Carolina, the group is the project of multi-instrumentalist David Ashe (guitar, bass, keyboards & drums) and lead vocalist Paul Bowman. Ashe started his musical journey in the early nineties playing with local Christian rock/metal acts St. John, Neverdeath and Last Parable and remained active in the scene through the turn of the century. Fast forward to 2023, and he started work on an instrumental album that in time transitioned to needing a vocalist, which led him to Bowman via a musicians wanted ad in a local paper.
Bowman traces his vocal beginnings to his first band in high school in which he learned to construct original music. He continued to front numerous bands over the years (many cover based), with his main claim to fame recording two albums of original material with Thoms Inside. He crossed paths with Ashe several times online ahead of forming Transcendent and recording the groups July of 2024 Roxx Records debut full length Awaken.
Whereas it would not be out of line to offer comparison to Sacred Warrior, Recon, Faith Factor and early Jacobs Dream, Transcendent is its own band in that Bowman does not bring a high-end vocal style similar to the front men of as noted contemporaries. Rather, he highlights a varied form that while capable of a soaring high note, otherwise finds him delivering ample doses of middle register grit and gravel.
Consider opener and debut single “Free Your Soul” in this capacity, a power metal mauler home to predominant rhythm guitar and eminent double kick drum (noting the work of Ashe either way) but also Bowman’s expansive vocals in which he reaches down in deeply tinctured fashion. It is the songs draw you in at once hooks, however, which allows it to rank alongside albums finest. Lyric snippet”
Free your soul into the eternal Kingdom
You are a child of God
Take your place in the love that is Heaven
Serve Almighty God
No time to say I can do it another day
Your soul it needs
Connection to the Creator
Follow up cut “Beyond The Veil” is every bit solid. It impresses as heavier and darker when placed alongside, sturdy with traditional metal style rhythm guitar and keyboards revealing a swarthy bent but beguiling found in similar type of catchy hooks to prevail. Of note is manner in which Bowman stretches and exhibits an at times high-end form to his earthy delivery.
I value “Awaken” equally. Albums title track reveals the group’s progressive side with its variances in tempo, manifest in the borderline thrash aspects to its mid-tempo verse section but also the immediate sensibilities to the high energy refrain. “Awaken” also finds Transcendent giving prominence to its instrumental sound in terms of the catchy riff driven opening minute and half and mid-point break accenting Ashe’s exquisite soloing (be brings to mind John Berry of Jacobs Dream). Lyric snippet:
You’re cleaning out the dust in your mind
It overflows and covers you again
When you know God will always forgive
He knows your battles, only He can win
And now you break free
Break free from your chains
Holding you down
Trying to kill your soul
“Unseen Battle” is one of albums lighter and more unique cuts. It resonates of the graceful as a melodic ballad, exuding emotion with its symphonic joining of keyboards and piano with smoother vocals albeit not forsaking the groups metal roots found in the bristling rhythm guitar to periodically muscle in. Wondrous harmonies carry the dreamy instrumental moments.
“Suffocate” returns album to a power/progressive heading. With open-air guitar to start ensued by a drum solo, song sets a dogged tone marauding forward as pensive keyboards reveal a darker Sacred Warrior-like vibe, while another engaging at once melody hints of Theocracy. The closing minute and half-instrumental run plays up the group’s progressive side. Lyric snippet:
When you feel all the pain and misery
God will breathe in His love
Lost in thought it’s hard to free yourself from it all
Day into night it all seems the same
You coast along here and there looking to survive
Only to just be content
Oh when I feel I can’t breathe anymore
I ask the Lord for His strength
“Here Comes The Reaper” is this reviewer’s choice track. It maintains the lavish rhythm guitar and double-kick drum upholding, albeit separating with a rawer, stripped down approach due to backing from the keyboard emphasis. Where the song does not diverge, however, is from building upon the same intricate hook focal point inherent to the Transcendent songwriting.
“Don’t Lie To Me” is first of two songs that while good I rate a notch below albums better material. Song stays true to the groups power/progressive proclivities with an atmospheric instrumental opening ahead of taking a ruminant mid-tempo turn rest of the way. That said, when placed alongside, I find it lacks the unmistakable hooks inclusive to many cuts here (at least to these ears). Lyric snippet:
More and more people living the human way
Don’t want to hear what the gospel has to say
I hear you say, don’t lie to me
These words I speak about eternity
It’s the same everywhere
That say that God is a fairytale
Right in front of their eyes
The proof is always there
Likewise, “Crack The Sky” is far from bad but not on the same level as some. Yes, song hits hard and benefits from a generous guitar and keyboard amalgamating, but perhaps due to being albums shortest at just over four minutes, it fails to grown and build in same fashion as its more protracted counterparts. Again, not filler or skip worthy, but there are other cuts I am better inclined to gravitate.
It goes without saying the future is exceedingly bright for Transcendent. If Awaken is any indicator of its potential Transcendent are certain to be a strong player within the hard music scene for years to come. The group proves masterful at joining engrossing melodies with abject heaviness while making use of tasteful but not overdone keyboards. The level of vocal performance and musicianship is accordingly top of the line. Only thing constructive to add would be to encourage Transcendent to expand upon its songwriting to include an instrumental or further explore its progressive side with an epic in excess of seven or eight minutes. Otherwise, fans of power and progressive metal would be well served by making Awaken a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Free Your Soul” (4:54), “Beyond The Veil” (6:03), “Don’t Lie To Me” (5:11), “Awaken” (5:34), “Unseen Battle” (5:10), “Suffocate” (6:07), “Here Comes The Reaper” (4:46), “Crack The Sky” (4:14)
Musicians
Paul Bowman - Lead Vocals
David Ashe - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards & Drums
Additional Musicians
Travis Pate - Bass
Mark Blewer - Drums
