Progtopia Archives

Ask 100 different fans what their idea of “prog” is, and you’re likely to get 100 different answers. But it’s safe to say UK-based To-Mera would have to be considered progressive by any definition. The quick label for them would be prog metal, given their driving guitars and pounding rhythms, but members Richard Henshall (keyboards), Paul Westwood (drums), Julie Kiss (vocals), Tom MacLean (guitars), and Mark Harrington (bass) have synthesized a unique blend of several different musical styles that has resulted in an EP and three full-length albums, including Exile, released on Illusionary Records this September. Kiss’s gothic soprano is accompanied by a band that knows when to rock and when to back off at just the right moments, and judging from critical and fan reaction to the new album, their brand of progressive music has much to recommend it. Progtopia host Mark Ashby spoke with MacLean about the origins of the band’s unique name, the effects of early hype on their subsequent career, the pros and cons of being compared with other female-fronted bands, and why having control over their new album on their own label is so important. Visit them on the web at www.to-mera.com.

Featured songs/excerpts:
“Inviting the Storm”
“Phantoms”
“Mirage”
“Deep Inside”
“End Game”
“Surrender”

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Originally posted 26 Oct 2012

Direct download: Progtopia_019_In_Exile_with_To-Mera.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:25am EDT