Tesseract - Polaris (10th Anniversary Edition) NAD2025

Originally formed as a studio project by guitarist Acle Kahney, Tesseract are a band full of melody, dynamics and groove, they sit outside the bounds of any genre specificity to truly create a sound that has always been pioneering and creative; an unstoppable force of off-kilter riffs, soaring melodies and disorientating atmospherics.

Having found a new creative energy after reuniting with original singer Dan Tompkins, the band's output changed in 2015 with the opus Polaris; an undoubted evolution from Altered State, featuring skilful experimentation with sounds and tones, plus a deeper exploration of the core attributes that define Tesseract's trademark sound. 

Where earlier work had often felt dense and confrontational, Polaris moved differently. The band played with negative space, letting ideas breathe without softening their weight. Heaviness didn't disappear - it found new shape. The result is measured but tense, detailed without feeling overworked. "Hexes" and "Seven Names" don't rush; they take their time, leaning on tone & pacing instead of sheer technical display. Even at its most complex, Polaris never feels crowded.