Thomas MacLean
Encyclopedia
Thomas MacLean is an English
born guitar
ist and bassist
. He is best known for being the guitarist in the progressive metal
/jazz fusion
band To-Mera
, and also for being the bassist for the progressive metal
band Haken
.
To-Mera formed in 2005 between a few friends, Julie Kiss (vocals), Lee Barrett (bass), Akos Pirisi (drums), Hugo Sheppard (keyboard) and MacLean. They released a demo, which caught the attention of Candlelight Records
. The band's musical style was drastically different from conventional Progressive metal
; the band drew upon a plethora of influences such as Jazz
, Progressive rock
, and others. In 2006, Candlelight released Transcendental
. In 2008, To-Mera released their next album, Delusions
, in 2008. In 2009, they parted with Candlelight. Hugo Sheppard left after this, and they recruited Richard Henshall
for the post. They then self released the Earthbound
EP.
Haken was formed by school friends Ross Jennings (vocals), Matthew Marshall (guitar), and Richard Henshall
at first in 2004. The members parted ways for a while to study at university, reuniting in 2007. The current members found Peter Jones
on keyboards and Raymond Hearne on drums. Jones left soon after, and was replaced by Diego Tejieda. Charlie Griffiths was found on guitar, and Henshall brought in To-Mera bandmate Maclean on bass. They released two demos in 2007 and 2008, which received excellent reviews. Their music caught the attention of Sensory Records, and the first album, Aquarius
, was released in 2010.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
born guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist and bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. He is best known for being the guitarist in the progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
/jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band To-Mera
To-Mera
To-Mera are a progressive metal band from South Oxfordshire in the UK. The band plays a technical style of metal characterized by long songs, multiple time changes and jazz interludes.-Current members:*Julie Kiss - Vocals*Thomas MacLean - Guitar...
, and also for being the bassist for the progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Haken
Haken (Band)
Haken is a London-based Progressive rock/Progressive metal band formed in 2007. At the moment they have two released albums, Aquarius, released in 2010, and Visions, released October 24 2011.-Biography:...
.
Formation of To-Mera
- Main Page To-MeraTo-MeraTo-Mera are a progressive metal band from South Oxfordshire in the UK. The band plays a technical style of metal characterized by long songs, multiple time changes and jazz interludes.-Current members:*Julie Kiss - Vocals*Thomas MacLean - Guitar...
To-Mera formed in 2005 between a few friends, Julie Kiss (vocals), Lee Barrett (bass), Akos Pirisi (drums), Hugo Sheppard (keyboard) and MacLean. They released a demo, which caught the attention of Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...
. The band's musical style was drastically different from conventional Progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
; the band drew upon a plethora of influences such as Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, and others. In 2006, Candlelight released Transcendental
Transcendental (album)
Transcendental is the début album from UK progressive metal band To-Mera. Its style is characterised by female vocals; long, multi-sectioned songs; heavy riffs and jazzy sections...
. In 2008, To-Mera released their next album, Delusions
Delusions (album)
Delusions is the second album from UK progressive metal band To-Mera. Its style is similar to their debut Transcendental, with a lot of the same aspects as that album....
, in 2008. In 2009, they parted with Candlelight. Hugo Sheppard left after this, and they recruited Richard Henshall
Richard Henshall
Richard "Hen" Henshall is a British Progressive metal multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for being the guitarist and keyboardist for the bands To-Mera and Haken...
for the post. They then self released the Earthbound
Earthbound (To-Mera EP)
Earthbound is an EP by UK progressive metal band To-Mera. It is the first release without former bass player and founding member Lee Barrett...
EP.
Formation of Haken
- Main page HakenHaken (Band)Haken is a London-based Progressive rock/Progressive metal band formed in 2007. At the moment they have two released albums, Aquarius, released in 2010, and Visions, released October 24 2011.-Biography:...
Haken was formed by school friends Ross Jennings (vocals), Matthew Marshall (guitar), and Richard Henshall
Richard Henshall
Richard "Hen" Henshall is a British Progressive metal multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for being the guitarist and keyboardist for the bands To-Mera and Haken...
at first in 2004. The members parted ways for a while to study at university, reuniting in 2007. The current members found Peter Jones
Peter Jones
Peter Jones or Pete Jones may refer to:*Peter Jones , English actor*Peter Jones , Australian rules footballer for Carlton...
on keyboards and Raymond Hearne on drums. Jones left soon after, and was replaced by Diego Tejieda. Charlie Griffiths was found on guitar, and Henshall brought in To-Mera bandmate Maclean on bass. They released two demos in 2007 and 2008, which received excellent reviews. Their music caught the attention of Sensory Records, and the first album, Aquarius
Aquarius (Haken album)
-Main Band:*Ross Jennings - Vocals*Richard "Hen" Henshall - Guitar and Keyboards*Charlie Griffiths - Guitar*Thomas MacLean - Bass Guitar*Ray Hearne - Drums, Tuba, Djembe*Diego Tejeida - Keyboards-Guest Musicians:*Craig Beattie - Trombone...
, was released in 2010.
With To-Mera
- (2005) Demo
- (2006) TranscendentalTranscendental (album)Transcendental is the début album from UK progressive metal band To-Mera. Its style is characterised by female vocals; long, multi-sectioned songs; heavy riffs and jazzy sections...
- (2008) DelusionsDelusions (album)Delusions is the second album from UK progressive metal band To-Mera. Its style is similar to their debut Transcendental, with a lot of the same aspects as that album....
- (2009) EarthboundEarthbound (To-Mera EP)Earthbound is an EP by UK progressive metal band To-Mera. It is the first release without former bass player and founding member Lee Barrett...
(EP)