Transmissions – Telepathy

Telepathy’s fifth album, Transmissions, is a sprawling 58-minute instrumental journey that solidifies the UK-based quartet’s reputation as avant-garde post-metal innovators. Formed in 2011 by Polish brothers Piotr, Albert, and Krystian Turek alongside English guitarist Richard Powley, the band crafts a cinematic soundscape inspired by faded family photographs and a rediscovered recording of Józef Piłsudski’s first radio broadcast. This blend of nostalgia and futurism permeates the album, creating a narrative arc that oscillates between heavy, riff-driven chaos and introspective, synth-laden calm.

Opening with “Oath,” Transmissions wastes no time, plunging listeners into a thunderous riff that evolves with shoegaze-like textures and subtle radio samples. The track sets the tone for an album that balances visceral intensity with thoughtful composition. “Augury” follows, weaving light arpeggios and synthwave elements into a mellower reflection, showcasing Telepathy’s knack for dynamic storytelling without vocals. The band’s influences – Tool, Deftones, and film scores – shine through, yet they carve a distinct path, akin to peers like Cult of Luna or Russian Circles.

This isn’t background music; it demands attention.

Standout track “End Transmission” anchors the album’s latter half. Clocking in at nearly 15 minutes, it’s a rollercoaster of crushing riffs, black-gaze flourishes, and a haunting piano interlude. The integration of Piłsudski’s voice adds emotional weight, evoking a timeless optimism amidst the sonic turbulence. Tracks like “Knife Edge Effect” inject synth-driven momentum, while “Tears in the Fibre” offers a brooding, dissonant reprieve, highlighting the album’s sonic diversity.

Transmissions strengths lie in its immersive quality and emotional resonance. This isn’t background music; it demands attention, rewarding listeners with vivid mental imagery of past lessons and present struggles. After five years of refinement since 2020’s Burn Embrace, Telepathy delivers a bold, genre-defying statement that cements their place in the post-metal landscape. For fans of atmospheric heaviness and cinematic depth, Transmissions is a triumph worth exploring.

Transmissions is available on 2LP gatefold vinyl and CD on Bandcamp.

Label: Pelagic Records
Release date: March 28, 2025