Teramaze

Teramaze emerged from Australia as a progressive metal outfit whose sound fuses elaborate yet approachable melodies, rich clean lead lines and layered harmonies, heavy riffs, and intricate rhythmic patterns. Their lyrics weave philosophical and sociological themes together with Christian principles. Originally assembled as a thrash metal group, the band issued Doxology in 1995. When they delivered their second album, Tears to Dust, in 1998, clearer melodic directions surfaced and reviewers likened the group to Queensrÿche, Symphony X, and Dream Theater. In 2006 founding guitarist Dean Wells brought together an entirely new roster. Following the passing of their drummer in 2009, the musicians finally finished Anhedonia in 2012, the first release to reflect their fully developed approach. Beyond captivating audiences across Australia and New Zealand, the ensemble kept refining material in rehearsal. Lineup shifts continued, as evidenced by the worldwide acclaim that greeted Esoteric Symbolism in 2014. Their most visible album to date, Are We Soldiers, appeared in 2019 and tempered the band’s heavier progressive outlook with heightened compositional and harmonic refinement.

Teenage guitarist Dean Wells launched the thrash metal project Terrormaze in 1993 alongside school friends bassist Matt Ritchie, guitarist Adam Burnell, vocalist Brett Rerekura, and drummer Tony Paulo. After initial woodshedding they adopted the name Teramaze and submitted a demo to Poland’s now-defunct Empire Records, which signed the band and released their debut long-player Doxology in 1995. Garnering attention in Australia, they received an invitation from Rowe Productions to place three tracks on the compilation Falling on Deaf Ears: Australian Metal Compilation, No. 4. By the time Tears to Dust arrived in 1998, Rerekura and Burnell had departed. Wells recruited vocalist and keyboardist Clinton Johannes, whose presence enabled the introduction of progressive elements even while thrash remained the dominant mode. Although they performed frequently, the Australian market proved too limited for full-time professional pursuit. After issuing the nine-track live-and-studio EP Not the Criminal in 2001 on CMC International, the group disbanded. Five years later Wells revived the project, welcoming back Rerekura on vocals, adding drummer Julian Percy, and cycling through various bassists and guitarists. A three-song demo surfaced in 2008, followed by the self-released Anthology on Jellyfish Music. Work immediately began on a studio album that would showcase their progressive maturation, yet Percy died suddenly in 2009. Teramaze gradually completed their 2012 prog-metal breakthrough Anhedonia for Nightmare Records with Wells, Rerekura, bassist Tijon Lolis, and guitarist Mathew Dawson; every drum part Percy had tracked during pre-production was retained. In support of the release they toured Australia and New Zealand while appearing at select European festivals. After a hiatus the roster changed again. Only Wells and Rerekura remained, joined by keyboardist and string arranger Dave Holley, drummer Dean Kennedy, and guitarist John Zambelis. This configuration recorded 2014’s Esoteric Symbolism, their most favorably received album thus far, whose success facilitated a European tour.

Once that tour concluded, Rerekura exited once more and was replaced by vocalist Nathan Peachy; Holley and Zambelis also departed, while bassist Luis Enrique Eguren joined, reducing the band to a quartet. This lineup cut 2015’s Her Halo, their first project for the independent metal imprint Music Theories Recordings, an affiliate of Mascot Label Group. The sound advanced further, presenting the group at its most progressive, melodic, and lyrical, and the metal press responded largely positively, opening doors to expanded touring, stronger sales, and increased streaming activity. Teramaze visited the United States and Asia for the first time, performing at festivals and opening for larger acts. In 2017 Wells assembled another configuration to prepare the subsequent album. Rerekura returned for his third stint as lead vocalist. On Are We Soldiers the band reinstated aspects of its harder-edged approach while elevating newcomer Jonah Weingarten’s keyboard contributions in the mix; bassist Andrew Cameron and drummer Nick Ross completed the lineup. Released in fall 2019 during an ongoing tour, the record prompted favorable comparisons to Pineapple Thief, TesseracT, Voyager, and Riverside.