Album Review: Temic – Ceiba
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
Three years since their blockbuster debut “Terror Management Theory”, prog metal’s newest super group are back with their sophomore release “Ceiba”. Featuring members (current or ex) of Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, Haken, Shining, and Devin Townsend, this truly does have a feel of prog royalty! Prog Radio described “Terror Management Theory” as “having the potential to innovate and redefine the boundaries of progressive rock and metal”. Can “Ceiba” begin to realise the band’s lofty potential?
In short, yes. Yes it can! Resoundingly yes! “Terror Management Theory” was great from a technical perspective but lacked that human emotion and felt all too ‘proggy woggy’ in parts. Technical for the sake of it. However, “Ceiba” has toned this down and really dialed into that all crucial human feeling.
Vocalist Fredrik leads this charge, asserting himself very early on in ‘Ashes’ with jaw-dropping operatic style performance! His voice is simply mesmerising! All sitting on top of a punchy tight as hell rhythm section, bone crunching guitars, all making way for the synths to add a melodic focal point alongside Fredrik. ‘Beyond The Voice’ takes a different turn, where the distorted guitars yield and the mood is introspective, ambient, where the tactical spaces and silence say more than any notes could. This also gives Fredrik all the room he needs to showcase the tender nature of his voice. Though make no mistake, they can turn up the intensity dial during the blistering choruses! Yep, all accusations of TEMIC being too overly polished and technical can be firmly extinguished. Especially with the powerhouse that is ‘Ceased To Be’. This will move you in more ways than one. Especially with the infectious and instantly memorable chorus! If not, you may just be a robot!
‘Broken’ is a much quieter, calmer 4 minute passage that either gives you some much needed time to lower your heart rate and catch your breath, or slows down the momentum of the album. Depending on who you ask. Though things pick up again in the 9 minute epic that is ‘Casting Stone’. Fredrik’s voice, the synths, the crunching guitar and bass, the complex polyrhythms; everything that makes TEMIC so incredible are on full display here with the lights on bright and the production getting the best out of them. Hell, you can find these elements in pretty much any song! Have fun, play a game, pick one at random and see how quickly they’ll win you over!
We spoke about emotion. Let’s examine ‘Alone’. Just listening to these on the nose lyrics can turn the most stoic individuals into a crumbling quivering mess!
I know that I feel so alone
I don’t want to feel this way, I’d rather feel nothing at all
Either you’ll be moved by this, or you’re lying. We can all relate to that feeling, surely! If that doesn’t get you, the absolute face melter of a guitar solo will! No fancy noodling, just good old fashioned riffs delivered with blistering tones and dripping in raw human sentiment!
Is “Ceiba” too long? Maybe. 66 minutes in length feels ambitious, and can feel like a challenge to get through. Forty five minutes feels like the sweet spot for albums in this day and age. Equally, TEMIC aren’t taking any half measures and are throwing everything into “Ceiba”. That, you must respect.
On October 2nd 2026, the world is going to be introduced to a new force in the world of progressive metal!
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