Tera Melos
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Tera Melos is an American
math rock Math rock is a style of Alternative rock, alternative and indie rock with roots in bands such as King Crimson and Rush (band), Rush. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), cou ...
band from
Sacramento, California Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...
, formed in 2004. They incorporate many styles of rock, ambient electronics and unconventional song structures. They are currently a three-piece, consisting of founding members guitarist-keyboardist-vocalist Nick Reinhart and bassist Nathan Latona, and drummer John Clardy, who joined the group in 2008. Tera Melos play a brand of music characterized by quickly alternating rhythmic patterns, start-stop dynamics, improvisation, two-handed tapping on the guitar, extended open-ended bridges, and the use of
effects pedals An effects unit, effects processor, or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing. Common effects include distortion (music), distortion/overdrive, ...
and samplers.


History


Early years (2004–2007)

The band formed in 2004 after the breakup of Nick Reinhart and Nathan Latona's former band No Regard. Jeff Worms and Vince Rogers joined shortly thereafter. Tera Melos rehearsed for nearly a full year before choosing to debut live. The band had initially intended to recruit a vocalist but did not settle on one and chose to carry on as an instrumental band for the next several years. After releasing a four-song demo, their untitled debut full-length was released on October 4, 2005. The album is composed of eight instrumental tracks. In 2010, it was re-issued on Sargent House. While some of the tracks on the album feature distorted vocals that are somewhat undecipherable, guitarist Nick Reinhart started contributing more prominent vocals to the music with the release of their 2007 split with By the End of Tonight, called ''Complex Full of Phantoms''. The album was named one of the most overlooked albums of 2005 by AP magazine. Right before they started recording their second EP, ''Drugs to the Dear Youth'', guitarist Jeff Worms left the band. On January 19, 2007, Tera Melos released the EP on Sargent House. Called ''Drugs'' for short, the EP took a step away from the band's previous sound into more progressive and original territory. They then embarked on their first national tour. Later in the year, the band contributed five songs to a split EP with the
Houston, Texas Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
band By The End Of Tonight. Released on
Temporary Residence Limited Temporary Residence Limited (shortened TRL) is a Brooklyn, New York–based record label. TRL was started in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1996 by Jeremy DeVine, and initially concentrated on releasing music by Louisville-based bands.
, ''Complex Full of Phantoms'' was the first release to feature prominent vocals in Tera Melos songs. Tours with By The End Of Tonight and Facing New York followed.


''Patagonian Rats'' (2008–2012)

Tera Melos announced on their
Myspace Myspace (formerly stylized as MySpace, currently myspace; and sometimes my␣, with an elongated Whitespace character#Substitute images, open box symbol) is a social networking service based in the United States. Launched on August 1, 2003, it w ...
page on April 2, 2008, that drummer Vince would be leaving the band to pursue other things after their Spring tour. He now performs a solo drum act using a sequencer under the name the Blank Reference. He is also a member of Marnie Stern's band. Tera Melos began searching for a new drummer, and after six months announced the addition of John Clardy. Prior to Vince's departure, the band had been planning a long-awaited LP release after touring; however, plans for a full-length were delayed. In the meantime they ended up releasing an EP of covers, featuring songs by
the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their f ...
and
Polaris Polaris is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is designated α Ursae Minoris (Latinisation of names, Latinized to ''Alpha Ursae Minoris'') and is commonly called the North Star or Pole Star. With an ...
, entitled ''Idioms, Vol. I''. The band resumed live activity again in January 2009 and toured with the likes of RX Bandits, These Arms are Snakes, and Melt Banana, in addition to headlining tours of their own. Tera Melos have developed a cult-like fan base around the United States, ultimately gaining some popularity in Europe, Asia, and South America. In September 2009, the ''Drugs to the Dear Youth'' EP and Tera Melos songs from the ''Complex Full of Phantoms'' split were combined into the release ''Drugs/Complex'' on Parabolica Records in Japan. October 2009 saw the band perform an 8-date headlining tour of Japan, and were subsequently featured in the DVD ''Parabolica Jam '09''. On November 7, 2009, Tera Melos confirmed a new album due out in 2010 in a Myspace bulletin. The post stated that the band was set to begin recording the next day. The new album, titled ''Patagonian Rats'', was released on September 7, 2010. The band toured extensively throughout North America and Europe in support of the record, playing with bands such as Maps & Atlases and Marnie Stern. The band embarked on a brief West Coast tour with the recently reunited Firehose in April 2012.


''X'ed Out'' (2013–2016)

On January 17, 2013, along with the release of a new song "Tropic Lame", Tera Melos announced their new LP '' X'ed Out'', which was released by Sargent House on April 16. Tracks from the album "Sunburn" and "Bite" were later released as singles. The band once again toured extensively in Europe, as well as a tour with Sargent House label-mates TTNG in the United States. The band supported
Minus the Bear Minus the Bear are an American indie rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2001, and comprising members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound has been described as " Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophi ...
on their West Coast dates. They have also since done extensive touring in 2014 traveling with
The Dillinger Escape Plan The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American metalcore band. The band was formed in 1997 in Morris Plains, New Jersey by guitarist Ben Weinman, bassist Adam Doll, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, and drummer Chris Pennie. The band's use of Consonance and ...
, and then again with Pinback. During many of their 2014 shows they performed "Dyer Ln" and "Don't Say I Know", both of which would not see a release until 2017's ''Trash Generator''. Nick Reinhart was featured on Death Grips' instrumental album ''
Fashion Week A fashion week is a week-long fashion industry event where fashion designers, brands, or "houses" display their latest collections in runway fashion shows to buyers and the media which influences upcoming fashion trends for the current and appro ...
'', as well as disc 2 of their double album '' The Powers That B'' and their fifth album '' Bottomless Pit''.


''Trash Generator'' and hiatus (2017–present)

In the final months of 2016, Tera Melos returned to the studio to record their first full-length album since ''X'ed Out''. Drummer John Clardy left the
School of Rock ''School of Rock'' (titled on screen as ''The School of Rock'') is a 2003 comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, produced by Scott Rudin and written by Mike White (filmmaker), Mike White. The film stars Jack Black, Joan Cusack, White and Sa ...
of
Southlake, Texas Southlake is a city located predominantly in Tarrant County with minor areas extending into Denton County in the U.S. state of Texas. Southlake is a suburb of Dallas/Fort Worth. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 31,265. History ...
as the band finished sessions for a brand new album entitled ''Trash Generator''. Before the album released, they toured with
Chon CHNOPS and CHON are mnemonic acronyms for the most common elements in living organisms. "CHON" stands for carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, which together make up more than 95 percent of the mass of biological systems. "CHNOPS" adds ...
and Covet, where they would perform "Treasures and Trolls", which appeared later as a single. The album was released on August 25, 2017, and typically received positive reviews. The band went on a U.S. tour that October with Speedy Ortiz. "Treasures and Trolls", despite already having a presence in their setlist, did not release until late 2018—a full year after the album. The single also released with a B-side featuring
Rob Crow Robertdale Rulon Crow Jr. (born February 21, 1971) is an American singer and musician from San Diego, California, known for his involvement with the bands Pinback, Heavy Vegetable, Physics (band), Physics, Optiganally Yours, Goblin Cock, and Thi ...
and a digital bonus track, both of which were from the album's sessions. During 2018, Tera Melos went on a headlining tour with Mouse on the Keys and supporting
Minus the Bear Minus the Bear are an American indie rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2001, and comprising members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound has been described as " Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics with sophi ...
on their farewell tour. For personal reasons, Nathan had to cancel his appearances on the tour and was filled in for by long-time friend and contributor Pat Hills. During a 2021 live-stream, Nick Reinhart stated that the band members have been in contact with one another, but haven't seen each other for some time due to Nathan and John living in Europe. This has left the band on an indefinite hiatus. Recently, Nick Reinhart has gone on tour with Death Grips in place of Andy Morin. It's presumed Andy left the group, although this is unknown.


Musical style

Tera Melos's sound is labeled as
math rock Math rock is a style of Alternative rock, alternative and indie rock with roots in bands such as King Crimson and Rush (band), Rush. It is characterized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures (including irregular stopping and starting), cou ...
,
experimental rock Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, wit ...
and
punk jazz Punk jazz is a genre of music that combines elements of jazz, especially improvisation, with the instrumentation and performance style of punk rock. The term was first used to describe James Chance and the Contortions' 1979 album '' Buy''. Pun ...
, with influences from
progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog) is a broad genre of rock music that primarily developed in the United Kingdom through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early-to-mid-1970s. Initially termed " progressive pop", the ...
and
post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. Like the term " post-punk", the term "post-hardcore" has been applied to a broad conste ...
.
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
critic Jason Lymangrover wrote that the band melds "the aggression of punk with the technical intricacies of prog rock," using "jerky shifts in time signatures and disjointed guitar noodling with a close resemblance to
Don Caballero Don Caballero (often shortened by members as 'Don Cab') was an American math rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Although the band has had numerous lineup changes with co-founder Damon Che (drums and percussion) being the only constant m ...
and Hella." The band's music also features tapped guitar parts, as well as angular bass riffs and splintered spazz-
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
drumming, complemented with ambient electronics and sparse vocal lines. Starting with ''Patagonian Rats'' in 2010, the band began to infuse pop elements and harmonic singing to their sound, "making a shift from unconventional song structures of ambient-indebted
post rock Post-rock is a subgenre of experimental rock that emphasizes texture, atmosphere, and non-traditional song structures over conventional rock techniques. Post-rock artists often combine rock instrumentation and rock stylings with electronics a ...
to hyper-technical
guitar pop Jangle pop is a subgenre of pop rock and college rock that emphasizes jangly guitars and 1960s-style pop melodies. The "jangly" guitar sound is characterized by its clean, shimmering and arpeggiated tone, often created using 12-string elect ...
." Their third album ''X'ed Out'' (2013) incorporated influences from
skate punk Skate punk (also known as skatecore and skate rock) is a skateboarding, skater subculture and punk rock Music genre, subgenre that developed in the 1980s. Originally a form of hardcore punk that had been closely associated with skate culture, sk ...
,
dream pop Dream pop (also typeset as dreampop) is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such ...
, and proto-emo.


Members


Current

* Nick Reinhart – guitars, vocals, programming (2004–present) * Nathan Latona – bass (2004–present) * John Clardy – drums (2008–present)


Former

* Jeff Worms – guitars (2004–2006) * Vince Rogers – drums (2004–2008) Timeline


Discography


Studio albums

*Untitled (2005) Springman, reissued (2010) Sargent House *''Patagonian Rats'' (2010) Sargent House *'' X'ed Out'' (2013) Sargent House *'' Trash Generator'' (2017) Sargent House


Compilation albums

* ''Drugs/Complex'' (2010) Sargent House


EPs

*'' Demo'' (2004) *'' Alive (2005) *'' Drugs to the Dear Youth'' (2007) Sargent House *'' IDIOMS vol. I'' (2009) Sargent House *''Frozen Zoo Remixes'' (2010) Sargent House *'' Zoo Weather'' (2011) Sargent House *'' Echo on the Hills of Knebworth'' (2011) Sargent House *''X'ed Out-The Remixes'' (2013) Sargent House *''Treasures and Trolls'' (2018) Sargent House


Splits

*''Complex Full of Phantoms'' (split with By the End of Tonight) (2007)
Temporary Residence Limited Temporary Residence Limited (shortened TRL) is a Brooklyn, New York–based record label. TRL was started in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1996 by Jeremy DeVine, and initially concentrated on releasing music by Louisville-based bands.


Music videos

*'' "''Hey Sandy" (2009) *'' "''The Skin Surf" (2010) *'' "''Frozen Zoo" (2010) *'' "''Manar the Magic" (2011) *'' "''Kelley" (2011) *'' "''So Occult" / "Kelly" (2011) *"Bite" (2013) *'' "''Weird Circles" (2013) *'' "''Slimed" (2014) * "Sunburn" (2014) * "Trash Generator" (2017) * "Warpless Run" (2017)


References


External links


Official websiteTera Melos on MySpaceTera Melos on Sargent House
{{Authority control American experimental rock groups Musical groups from Sacramento, California Math rock groups Musical trios from California Rock music groups from California Temporary Residence Limited artists