Trascendence: Nothing Etched In Stone PT. 1 | Much More Than Progressive Metal
(2025 – Cosmic Fire Records)
At this point, one is quite saturated with what Progressive Metal is. The repetition of formulas and styles bores even the most discerning music lover. Sometimes you come across bands like Trascendence, where the equation seems to be reversed, and ultimately, the idea is Power Metal with Progressive Rock influences, and not the other way around. The idea behind “Nothing Etched In Stone Pt. 1,” it seems, revolves more around a Power Metal-centered foundation, which sets them apart from the rest. Not that much, though, because even so, Trascendence makes fairly intense use of the characteristics that make a classic progressive metal band.
That said, let’s take a little trip down memory lane, mainly to find out that Trascendence is not a new band. These guys have a history. The band was founded in the late ’90s in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area by Kirk Wood (bass), Jeff Ford (guitar), Greg Drew (vocals), John Von Rosenberg (drums), and John Howser (keyboards). Their first album, The Meridian Project, was released in 2001, and during that time they also released a three-song EP titled 3 Stones in 2003. Trascendence spent the next 14 years opening for artists such as Dream Theater, Geoff Tate, and countless other bands in their hometown. So we are looking at a band that, long ago and far away, had its own shine.
So in 2025, Trascendence seems to be coming back to life (at least from a recording standpoint), releasing this new album, which promises to be the beginning of an interesting narrative series since, like many bands of this genre, the idea of a concept album does not seem to be an option, but almost a custom, one might say.
In “Nothing Etched In Stone Pt. 1,” we find an album with 12 tracks (some instrumental), where the idea and concept seem to be guided by a story about an artist’s journey through passion, loss, and redemption. The story follows an artist who discovers his creative “stone” and pursues it relentlessly, drawing inspiration from “the edge” near his home. A devastating loss, linked to a global crisis orchestrated by dishonest agencies, shatters his world, extinguishing his creativity and peace. Struggling with grief, he flees to a foreign land, briefly rekindling his art, but falling into a spiral of addiction and obsession. Reflecting on his work, he foresees loneliness and returns home, questioning whether his dreams have held him back as he glimpses a transcendent future.
Of course, the band does not have a direct “Christian” message as some always claim. It’s a cool and interesting story for those who, in addition to music, enjoy a good story with good storytelling. Let’s get to the music then.
It’s clear that Trascendence is about metal, strongly influenced by progressive rock, and not the other way around. Their metal roots and foundations are evident throughout the album, mediated by intensive use of keyboards, often at the forefront of the sound. The guitars sound as orchestral as possible, but with aggressive riffs, which is no small detail. Brian Dixon’s voice is at a very high level and is one of the keys to Trascendence. Of course, this would not be the case if the musical base were not also excellent, although I suspect some “technological” use in some tracks.
It’s no surprise that the first track, “Discovery,” is instrumental. I suspected this from the beginning. Beyond my prejudices, what follows with “Take Control” blew my mind. It starts with strong riffs accompanied by keyboards, and with a speed worthy of Stratovarious, which blows our previous prejudices out of the water. “One Fear” is not far behind. With a mid-tempo beat, strong guitars, and crushing riffs, it shows the more “metal” side of Trascendence.
In “Shades Of Winter,” the influence of progressive rock is felt in a composition that, while not surprising, remains within the parameters of metal but with a much more pretentious sense of melody, while in “Last Solstice,” Trascendence shows its more experimental and introspective side. “Infect The Nations” seems to continue in the same vein as the previous track, as a kind of continuation.
In “The Edge Awaits,” the vibe changes completely to offer us a dense, climatic, and overloaded song. In contrast, “Voices In The Dark” shows a side much closer to something similar to A.O.R., at least in principle, because its mood becomes increasingly overloaded as it goes “in crescendo.” Possibly one of the most interesting tracks on the album.
To close, there are two more instrumentals. “Lost…Dream” is more of a collection of sampled sounds than a song, while “In…Time” is an interesting string arrangement. Both serve as an introduction to “Ruins…Before The Dawn,” a grand and imposing ballad that closes this first installment of “Nothing Etched In Stone.” In the version we have here, there is a bonus track. It is “Open The Sky,” a song that apparently does not belong to this album and was produced by Travis Wills, vocalist of the band Crimson Glory, no less. The sound is totally different from the rest of the album, and for that reason, we suspect that it was extracted or recorded in a different session, although this issue is not clarified. In any case, it’s a great song and we appreciate its inclusion on this album.
The conclusion is that “Nothing Etched In Stone Pt. 1,” while moving within the “progressive” spectrum of metal, goes much further and is closer to a band like Stratovarious than Dream Theater, to make a valid comparison. The songs have a positive balance, and although there are a few bumps in the road, it is still a good album, and I am sure that Trascendence’s next release will far surpass what they have demonstrated in this work.
The artwork is of high quality, and both the cover and the interior design feature illustrations in keeping with the album’s theme. However, we are not fond of the fact that the CD comes in a cardboard box rather than an acrylic case, but it must be said that a great deal of work has gone into the artwork for the album.
“Nothing Etched In Stone Pt. 1” has so far only been released in digital and CD formats, which we recommend as always, but for now, it has not been released on vinyl. We assume that sooner rather than later this will happen, so for lovers of the analog format, it will be a matter of waiting. To get this album, you can try https://cosmicfirerecords.com
We also provide information on how to contact the band, follow them on social media, and stay up to date with their latest news, as well as the video clip for the song “Shades Of Winter”…
https://linktr.ee/TranscendenceUS
https://www.facebook.com/transcendenceusband
https://www.facebook.com/cosmicfirerecords
