Transcending Into the Unknown is a name simply begging for a good story. It is not only their name that is exciting, but also the band itself: a family band where Filip, Robert, and Stian Dahl join their three generations of music talents under one banner.
The Dahls are three multi-instrumentalists in a leap of faith in collaboration to create a conceptual piece of art, knitted from the diverse experiences of each other. Filip, the composer, multi-instrument, and record producer, started his decades-long career by cutting his teeth in Norwegian rock bands before becoming a renowned engineer and artist. His brother Robert, meanwhile, brings a punk-metal mass with him, having fronted the band Ack-Ack in the late 80s. Finally, Stian, the son of Filip, completes the family band, as he is into blues and rock, with influences from neoclassical and death metal. Their new single "Chronos" with vocalist Eva Halsetrønning Rambrau is evidence of their magnificent talent.
Dotted with tender shimmer, the track opens onto a complex array of guitars glimmering in a serene trance of tranquility. But this serenity is short-lived because, after the first minute, the song abruptly kicks into a furious tempest of sound. The drums fire up with dizzying energy, as the vocals add a shot of power. Sizzling now with pyrotechnic precision, the guitar leads shred through the textures with fiery intensity. It's a maelstrom of energy, leaving one breathless.
The solos are a groove-filled journey, dripping in the bluesy grit that has typified their career; we hear an eruption of fire, showing their love for metal, as well as blues swagger and technical proficiency. "Chronos" leaves one wanting for more, amazingly changing between the contrasting sonic landscapes and making the band capable of a smooth shift from style to texture.
Transcending Into the Unknown hails a band not afraid to transcend limits. Its music is a mixture of styles, like a tribute to their varied paths in finding their voice and their urge to go together into the unknown that is sound. The perfect example is "Chronos", art from a creative vision that is as captivating as it is innovative.
I tremendously enjoyed "Chronos," and I could say this track is one of those songs that will be in your head a long time after it finishes. Transcending Into the Unknown is one of those bands that will easily merit your attention. Stop waiting and check out "Chronos" on your favorite streaming platform right now.