Band:	Transcending Bizarre?
Album:	The Serpent's Manifolds
Style:	Avantgarde metal, Symphonic black metal
Release date:	2008
A review by:	Jeff

01. Dat Rosa Mel Apibus
02. Irreversible
03. Cosmic Zero Equation
04. The Serpent's Manifolds
05. Dimension Hell
06. Cell
07. Writhing Coils Of Construction
08. The Music Of The Spheres
09. The Navelless One
10. Infinite

Back in 2003, I had the chance to write the review of a magnificent and incredible album, "The Four Scissors". Unfortunately, even if Transcending Bizarre?'s first album was amazing, not a lot of people tried to listen to it and later we didn't even get any news of the Greek combo... To be honest I was simply thinking that the band was no more when I received a month ago a news about an upcoming album. Transcending Bizarre? was not dead so of course now you'll be able to know if the guys are still the same great compositors and musicians. And you know what? As a "famous" singer says? they did it again!

"The Four Scissors" was a crazy album, this kind of release which goes in a dozen of directions and which cannot be more original in the end. Between electronic, symphonic Black Metal and melodic Death, this release was one of the biggest slaps in my head of reviewer (don't miss it if you have the chance to find it!). I was expecting a lot of good things with "The Serpent's Manifolds" and I'm not disappointed even if we have some little changes here. The main difference between the two albums is that "The Serpent's Manifolds" is probably a bit more Metal and not so crazy than "The Four Scissors". It's not really problematic because the new album is good nonetheless but evidently it will be not so surprising than the first release and honestly the craziness of "The Four Scissors" was just perfect. Now, the band still uses electronic sounds and samples plus great symphonic arrangements but the guitars and the riffs in general are a lot more Heavy Metal in the genre. This is not a big problem but the new album is more melodic and less aggressive and it will be maybe be a bit disturbing for the old fans of the combo. On the other hand I'm sure that Transcending Bizarre? will find a lot of new fans now which come from the Heavy and melodic Death Metal scene.

The album is really well done in general. The production is perfect and all the arrangements and electronic sounds are perfectly included into the music. The musicians, especially Dim (who is also the guitarist of Dol Ammad and Out Of The Lair by the way?) are excellent, the new songs are catchy as hell, really "The Serpent's Manifolds" is a new successful album which is just not so surprising in comparison of "The Four Scissors" but at least Transcending Bizarre? still plays the same kind of music and anyway they're the only ones who do it so? Don't miss it!

If you like Arcturus or Septic Flesh and want a fast melodic and electronic version of their music, you should have a look on "The Serpent's Manifolds". This release is really good, original catchy and surprising. Not a lot of bands are able to play original Metal nowadays but Transcending Bizarre? and their avant-gardist Black/Death Metal is one of them. I really hope now that people will talk about them now and that a real big label will sign them, the Metalheads from all around the world must have the chance to listen to this amazing band. Highly recommended to all the fans of original and crazy Metal.