TesseracT might be brand new to a lot of metal fans, but they have been grinding away at the music industry for just over ten years.
Their first record, One, was released back in 2011, and the Milton Keynes-based rockers have been slowly but steadily improving their craft ever since.
It feels as if their artistry and hard work have finally begun to pay off, as last year saw their fifth record, War of Being, hitting number four in the UK Rock & Metal Album charts in September 2023.
TesseracT’s frontman, Daniel Tompkins, exclusively told Express.co.uk that he believes this newfound success came from a major change within the band: “There was a definite indication very early on that this album was a lot bigger, sonically, than what we’ve produced before. And I think that comes from the fact that we actually went into the studio and worked with the producer this time around.”
Speaking from the band’s rehearsal room, days before they go on tour, and months after the album’s success, it feels as if Tompkins has a newfound view (and maybe even respect) for War of Being, and how it could be perceived.
Tompkins explained TesseracT “let go” of a lot of their music while recording – something they weren’t used to doing.
“[We] put ourselves at the mercy of someone that was saying: ‘Take this section out of that song, it’s pointless, or make these kinds of decisions or do this and that,'” he recalled. “And I think there was a bit of a fight and there was a bit of a struggle.
“Relinquishing that – to a degree- took us a while, but after a few weeks of this to-and-fro with our main producer, Peter Miles, I think it became apparent very quickly that that combination of both worlds clashing from a production and a band world was actually producing a lot of exciting ideas.”
While TesseracT’s more, perhaps, refined sound has found them greater success, Tompkins was quick to point out this does not in any way detract from their artistry.
Especially where the band’s live performances are concerned. “Nothing, really, has changed there,” he assured me. “We do have control of the live show. We definitely have input in what we want to achieve, the vision. I think the thing that’s limited us in the past is funding because it’s especially – now – it’s incredibly expensive to hire lighting rigs and travel with them around the world. So we have to we have to try and find a happy medium with what we can achieve versus budget.”
But as TesseracT grow undoubtedly larger, with bigger venues, thicker crowds and meatier budgets, does the band find themselves buckling under the weight of a newfound pressure? “I actually feel the opposite, in a lot of ways,” Tompkins assured. “The pressure is getting less and less because I think it comes with experience.”
Wry smile engaged, he added: “I mean, touring is a young man’s game, definitely. And we’re all averaging 40 – I’m 40 now – so we’ve got a lot of years experience doing this. And I think… don’t get me wrong, there are exciting moments – but it does feel like business as usual. We’re all on top of our game. We feel confident and relaxed when we go on stage. And I think – I’ll be honest with you – I think we’re just enjoying the ride and the new possibilities with the fact that we can do more now a bit more freedom.”
Armed with a powerful mindset for the future, the question must be asked: When will TesseracT be dropping their sixth album?
“We’ve been having this conversation today actually,” Tompkins admitted somewhat reluctantly. “I mean, we don’t want it to be another five years. Yeah, we do want to write as soon as possible to get the next record going. It all pivots around the fact that our main songwriter is the instigator and he needs to be in his right headspace and right frame of mind.
“So when that inspiration hits, we’re going to jump on it.”
TesseracT are on tour in the UK next month, get your tickets below:
SEE TICKETS – Buy TesseracT tickets here.
TICKETMASTER – Buy TesseracT tickets here.
LIVE NATION – Buy TesseracT tickets here.
