Telepathy – Transmissions

Telepathy have returned with intent and with a new energy on this latest release, Transmissions. The quartet have embraced and mastered the magic and sorcery of dovetailing synthesised layers of sound into what is essentially a juggernaut of glorious riffs and pummelling percussions. This is the album I was waiting for!

Where do I begin with a band like Telepathy! They have been on my radar since I first heard Tempest back in 2017. That post metal style of theirs which hinged and pivoted around these giant, almost cinematic walls of sound were an absolute revelation at the time. It was explosively heavy and sludgy in all the right places. I caught the guys live on a few occasions around that time, including one very memorable night in May, nestled beneath the vast green leaved canopies of the Dunk! Forest stage. Amidst the dancing shadows and silhouettes, I witnessed a band capture an audience with an intensity and a potency that will live long in the memory . After that performance, I was never in any doubt that Telepathy were a band with something special in them. Having now secured a place under the watchful eye of Pelagic Records, I would love to think that Telepathy have now found their forever home!

So, with all this in mind, here we have it, the quartet’s latest album release, Transmissions. Seven tracks that showcase the diversity and progressive philosophy that drives the band beyond the standard post metal blueprint. Progressive in the sense that the guys have embraced and mastered the magic and sorcery of dovetailing all these synthesised layers of sound into what is essentially a juggernaut of glorious riffs and pummelling percussions.

The opener, Oath, wastes no time in giving the listener an indication of how far this band have come. Blistering yet clinical guitars dance and waltz alongside precision drumming, and let me reassure you all, those percussions are huge! The addition of old audio recordings and the clever use of synths stitch the mellower moments of the track perfectly with the murderously heavy!  It’s an absolute beast, and even manages to flow seamlessly into the following track, Augury, which again is a masterclass in delivering pace and power to your senses. The sheer force and effervescent energy that they conjure up on this track is immeasurable.

Knife Edge Effect brings that celestial and interstellar “soundtrack to a motion picture” vibe with it, and it’s something that Telepathy have really embraced and delivered on. In general, post music lends itself well to movie scores and cinematic escapades but not every band can coherently merge the ferocity of metal with the deftness of film. Telepathy have shown here, and in fleeting glimpses before, that they have been tinkering with it for a while now, me thinks! And to be frank, they are one of the best at it.

The rest of Transmissions doesn’t fail to impress either, from the soft and understated sounds of A Silent Bridge to the muscle wielding burliness of End Transmission. Telepathy are masters at summoning some of the filthiest and ferocious riffs out there, and somehow managing to bring melody and mood to it all, without ever losing any of its vehemency.

Transmissions is a giant leap forward for Telepathy, in terms of songwriting and song structure. It should be a benchmark to others on how to evolve as a band and how to fine tune your sound and make it your own. The production and clarity on the recording, along with the vigour and intensity in the delivery makes Transmissions a triumph and an AOTY contender.