Music has always had hidden messages concerning limitations; basically, a band should never let the mindset of a potential obstacle conquer their objective, but we see it happen way too many times, whether it's from generic attributes or effortless slumps. However, To-Mera's crisp ideology on Delusions provides one of the boldest attempts at constructing new paths away from such disaster, and what we get in return is perfected progressive metal, and that's straight from the heart. Many groups openly waltz with boredom's ever-flowing curse like it was a divine calling, but an album like Delusions proudly kicks negativity right where it hurts and redefines everything great about individualistic metal, just like a golden nugget should.Honestly, To-Mera's sophomore effort is what we in the media field call "bat-sh*t crazy" due to the constant instrumental clatter. There is not a single moment of incoherent cacophony that drives you away; instead, this record's utter craziness attracts like a magnet. The corky magic essentially bases itself in tiny, stable patterns juicing every drop of goodness before altering upon a simple command; once that happens, something new takes over, and the whole snippet-based cycle continues on with amazement in its grasp. But how could taking a nibble from a hundred sandwiches – each possessing its own specific flavor – make your stomach full? Try jamming nearly every kind of music imaginable into this disc while doing so.
Sounds pretty crazy, doesn't it? Not surprisingly, To-Mera does lurch into these unknown caverns without fear, even when facing possible consequences ranging from boredom to the listener throwing this disc away. However, they do very well ditching any problems, and here's how: To-Mera's vivid influences not only demonstrate intelligent potency, but firmly bind their metallic edge into areas nobody would ever consider connecting in a million years, yet they somehow end up fantastically crafted. Intervals occurring quite frequently will give your virgin ears a taste of mismatched jigsaws entwining on perfected status, like those jazz-laden interludes coexisting alongside hearty black metal pieces on "The Lie." Now picture that together with technical riffs, blastbeats, lounge music, female vocals, artistic keyboards, ripping solos, hard rock sections, musically-alternating choruses, and percussion fills ranging from insane to inhuman. Welcome to the tip of the iceberg, baby!
As we dive into this realm of demented poetics, there is all but one truth: To-Mera is flawless in every musical spectrum, even when reaching into the obscure. For one, Yngwie Malmsteen and the remaining chairmen of the Divine Guitar Council have warmly welcomed Tom MacLean into their special quarters, as they've clearly seen his talent evolve and improve since his first stab at technical shredding. Hell, I seriously had my jaw drop whenever MacLean briefly pitched those mathematical riffs and literally destroyed his instrument with a solo unlike anything of this planet; he really is that good. Julie Kiss' vocals have a special relationship with this shredding opus that only can be compared to that of Garfield and Jon Arbuckle: very different, but they work extremely well when sealed together. Same concept can easily be applied to Paul Westwood's skins beating and Mark Harrington's my-face-just-got-sanded thumping, courtesy of his destructive bass. Honestly, there resides not a single letdown, musically or poetically. Just expect greatness becoming one with the unconventional.
Every time Delusions penetrates my hearing orifices, I'm brought to a new world in which stellar forms of music's many backgrounds can bend, twist, tangle, and flow within each other and to the beyond; a masterful display at capturing progressive metal's finest elements while discovering uniqueness unlike any other band imaginable. Case in point, To-Mera literally has its sh*t all over the place. I'm not trying to sling mud at their effort on Delusions, because it really is revolutionary when stacked against bands that sound progressive just because the neighbors are asking them to do so. What we have here primly describes progressive metal justice like it should be, so just relax and let it take you to a place only pure originality can create. An outstanding release overall.