‘Chronos’ is a shapeshifting and dramatic ballad that’s deeply impactful with its haunting melodies and stirring solos. An ambitious undertaking, Transcending into the Unknown are channeling fellow Nordic cousins Opeth with this intricate and engaging composition.
Based in the Norwegian city Trondheim, Transcending into the Unknown are a band that just formed in 2023 by Filip, Robert, and Stian Dahl. On ‘Chronos’, the band are featuring the softspoken lead vocals of Eva Halsetronning Rambraut, creating a stark contrast between it, and Robert’s metal growls. ‘Chronos’ is a lengthy progressive piece that features several consecutive chapters, weaving them all together into a rock-solid narrative that is deeply engaging.
Coincidentally, or perhaps not so much, the mellow chapters of ‘Chronos’ channel the mellower songs on Opeth’s catalog, while the song’s heavy, growled, and intense sections channel the music of Ghost, with those two bands hailing from neighboring Sweden. A mere geographical coincidence or not, ‘Chronos’ remains a moving and very entertaining piece with its gentle and approachable pacing, terrific lead guitar parts, and underneath all, a high level of musicianship and a good composition.
‘Chronos’ displays Transcending into the Unknown as highly capable group, fully in control of their craft, which is a style of music notoriously hard to be inventive in, in late 2024. Nonetheless, the band succeeds in delivering a superb display of musicianship, a highly engaging arrangement, and deeply impactful piece of music.
