I’ll be honest, the term “supergroup” does not sell an album to me. In fact, it does the opposite. Temic is framed as a supergroup, and I don’t think that’s doing them any favors. I liked (not loved) their debut 2023 debut, but Ceiba is a clear step-up, in my opinion. The record releases on October 2nd.
Temic means “dream” and Ceiba is a reference to the Tree of Life that connects the cosmos. There, that’s two questions answered. The band comes from a wide range of countries and features Fredrik Klemp (Maraton) on vocals, Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress) on guitars and backing vox, Diego Tejeida (Devin Townsend, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, ex-Haken) on keys, Simen Sandnes (Evergrey) on drums, and Miguel Pereira (Withem) on bass. Lots of experience here. The cover art is by Hicham Hamzi of H-Hich Design.
The band plays a modern progressive rock/metal. I won’t say it’s anything particularly original and new, but it’s beautifully melodic, flowing, and confident. I’ve always been a fan of Diego’s righteous control of melody on the keys, and he brings that overwhelming flow here. But Fredrik’s vocals are a major highlight, too, sounding innocent and pure. I’m also a big fan of Simen’s drumming on the latest Evergrey album, and his collaboration with Miguel makes for a truly monstrous rhythm section. Eric’s guitars are introspective at times, heavy and driving in others, and so everyone contributes, and the sum is certainly even greater than the parts.
There is quite a bit to process here. There are eleven tracks and the runtime is over 65 minutes. Despite this, I don’t sense much in the way of filler, and there is an undeniable passion that is easy to detect. After the ambient intro “Asunder”, the album hits the ground running with “Ashes”, a powerful tune that will make you want to sing with your whole chest. “Beyond the Voice” and “Ceased to Be” come next with excellent offerings, the former being spacious and particularly urgent in its feelings, and the latter offering what is basically a seven-minute epic with full-blown cinema and a surging current of emotion. I love that song, and how it ends with percussion and contemplation.
The first half ends with “Broken”, a delicious ballad with leering electronic accents. It is so gorgeous and well-done. It leads into my favorite on the album, “Casting Stone”. This nine-minute piece is also written like an epic, and it leans hard into the melody and the build-up. It has some of the most emotive lyrics and vocals of the year, yet also a rocking riff and huge solos. It is such a cool song.
The album doesn’t let up. “See Myself” is probably my second favorite. I love how heavy it is, how spiraling and layered, but the lyrical message is just as potent. “Parting the Waves Inside” is one of the most keyboard-led pieces here, the keys swelling and driving in exquisite fashion. I love how harmonic this song is. And then we get another ballad, “Night of Veils”, which is absolutely wonderful, floating as it does in cosmic realms with emotive guitar piercing the darkness. So good.
The album feels like a logical argument, one that presents claims and reasons, and “Alone” is the conclusion and apex of the evidence. It makes for a powerful track, not only in the shadowy and sometimes epic melodies, but also in the overwhelming sense of realization. The album ends with “As Long As We Last”, a ten-minute piece that takes its time. It relishes the space and melody. For a towering closer, it features plenty of floating passages, reserved and thoughtful, and I adore the vocal harmonies that rise as it progresses. It’s a great ending to an album that doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Temic has tightened up their composition, and the emotional delivery hits the nail on the head. Ceiba feels a bit mystical and cinematic, just as it feels technical and heavy. The vocals are terrific, too, making me want to sing along. I would still love to hear some actual Mesoamerican elements in keeping with the band name and album title, but what the band offers is quite spectacular.
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