The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara (TCOMAS) announce their return with the upcoming release of a brand new song, titled “Mysterium Tremendum”. Out 23 February 2024, the new single will also be accompanied by a fully animated music video. Written and recorded between December 2022 and October 2023, the new track merges metal and classical music, and contains section sections with classical piano and a full orchestra performed and put together entirely by the duo — Daphne Ang (vocals, piano, keyboards), Andrea Papi (vocals, guitars, bass). Much like in opera, the song combines music and poetry, where the melodic (aria) and recitative (parlando) vocals by Ang coalesce with dissonant metal vocals by Papi.

Andrea Papi on the new song:
“I would describe “Mysterium Tremendum” as being ‘Opera Metal’. It contains musical and lyrical elements that gives the work a perfect combination of ‘heaviness’ that is both melancholic and brutal.”

Daphne Ang, commenting on the orchestral sections of the new song:
“The song contains a large section with a full orchestra, which took me a long time to compose and arrange. It took a long time to record all the individual instruments in the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections, and for Andrea to get the orchestral effects right in the mixing stage. It was a real challenge, but it was mostly a rewarding experience, as we made it purely a TCOMAS effort.”

The song explores the concept of “mysterium tremendum et fascinans” which is the dual nature of the experience of the numinous, a mystery (mysterium) that is at once terrifying (tremendum) and awe-inspiring, before which humanity both trembles and is fascinated (fascinans).

“I came across this concept in Das Heilige (The Idea of the Holy), a book by Rudolf Otto”, Daphne Ang notes. “We named the new track “Mysterium Tremendum” as the meaning of this abstract concept really comes alive in the music and words. It is the raw, enduring, and barbaric pain that pierces deep into the soul, which may then develop into something pure, beautiful and glorious. It is the totality of the highest and lowest points of our existence.”

Accompanying the new single, the pair will release a self-produced animated music video for the track created under their video and visual production arm, TCOMAS Studio. Set in warring Ancient Rome and Medieval Europe, the video combines traditional 2D and 3D animation with AI video technology to recreate the life story and journey of the anti-hero’s experience of the ‘mysterium tremendum’.

The new single and video provides a first glimpse into the pair’s return, arriving after two frenzied years of activity during which the duo dropped two full-length albums.

“After the release of our second album Trust No Leaders in mid-2022, we decided that we needed to take some time to rest, reflect and recharge, and contemplate on the next steps for our music. It was a much needed break as composing, recording, producing, releasing, and marketing two albums, 15 singles and music videos independently in a span of two years was no easy feat,” notes Andrea Papi.

Described to be one of “the most important British-based bands of the decade” (Ever Metal), their pioneering performance of poetry in heavy music has become a form of expression that has become synonymous with TCOMAS. Their debut album, Full Spectrum (released February 26, 2021), captured the imaginations of new listeners with their blend of electronic, rock, metal and poetry performance, most notably “Love in the Time of Pestilence“, which graced several official Spotify playlists (Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal). In their sophomore album, Trust No Leaders (released July 1, 2022), the duo further refined their niche and innovation – “Heavy Metal fused with literature, poetry, and art” (FemMetal).

Dubbed by TUTV! as “architects in sound and vision” for their visual inventiveness. Their music videos have been screened globally at numerous international film festivals, receiving 52 official selections and nominations to date, most notably the Tokyo International Short Film Festival, The Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival, Xposure International Photography & Film Festival, and the Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival.

“Mysterium Tremendum” will be available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms on Feb 23 2024 via Symphonic — visit https://hypeddit.com/afs2mh to pre-save.

Join the premiere of the music video via The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara’s Official YouTube Channel on Feb 23, 2024

Official Website | https://tcomas.com
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YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChroniclesofManimalandSamara