In December 2020, TesseracT invited fans to join them in P O R T A L S — an ambitious concept created to offer an escape in a time of isolation. The live cinematic experience fused live performance with beautiful lighting and striking effects, brought together by chaptered screenplay. By taking their most daring steps as a creative force, the band offered the viewer a completely new and unique experience.
The show was a phenomenal success and garnered praise from fans and media worldwide after the band performed 14 songs spanning their entire catalogue in a performance that lasted over 2 hours, with one of the highlights being the track “Nocturne.” Watch the full performance video now below.
Bass player Amos Williams says, “‘Nocturne’ has been a firm fan and band favorite since it was released ahead of the Altered State album cycle. As such, we threw a lot into the performance, which was matched by our production team, who really pushed the envelope with what they achieved during this track. The laser effects and lighting is powerful and emotive, and Rich’s cinematography really hits the mark.”
He furthers, “Every tour produces a slightly different version of this track, as our mindset waxes and wanes, but this version of ‘Nocturne’ is a real high mark for us, we feel; it was just so much fun to perform after not performing it for a year. So, why didn’t we close the show with this song if it was so fun? The thought did cross our minds — we figured everybody would want that. But we wanted to sit outside our comfort zone with an ‘encore’ of real deep cuts and fan favorites. Thus, ‘Nocturne (P O R T A L S)’ was the perfect handover between the desired and expected, as well as an excellent guide for everyone as we turned to face the weird and wonderful direction of the final act.”
TesseracT performed songs spanning their entire catalogue. Other highlights included “Eden” (One, 2011), “Of Matter” (Altered State, 2013), “Tourniquet” (Polaris, 2015), and “King” (Sonder, 2018), with the whole performance capturing 14 songs over 2+ hours. Check out our own review of the event here
Williams reflects on the show and its forthcoming release, saying, “It is only with hindsight and some time to appreciate it that we realize what this show meant to us. P O R T A L S as a show was an experiment afforded to us in a time when anything was possible because nothing of our previous life was possible. The overwhelming acceptance of such an approach to our music, and the stories contained within it, has shown us a potential path forward for TesseracT. It was exciting to connect with our fan base in such a difficult time for everyone, and it was powerful to see how it allowed some respite and escapism. These things were the gifts that this show gave to us, a direction and a drive, as we use this show’s example to forge a new path for TesseracT.”
Now, Kscope is proud to present this unique event to a wider audience for the first time. The film and soundtrack will be issued on an array of formats including Blu-Ray, Triple LP soundtrack, and as a limited edition deluxe 4-disc book edition on August 27.
“P O R T A L S” Track-listing:
1. “Of Matter” (P O R T A L S) [13:55]
2. “King” (P O R T A L S) [06:28]
3. “Concealing Fate Parts 1, 2 & 3” (P O R T A L S) [18:15]
4. “Tourniquet” (P O R T A L S) [04:30]
5. “Beneath My Skin/Mirror Image” (P O R T A L S) [05:44]
6. “Orbital (P O R T A L S) [02:06]
7. “Juno” (P O R T A L S) [06:11]
8. “Cages” (P O R T A L S) [05:28]
9. “Dystopia” (P O R T A L S) [06:43]
10. “Phoenix” (P O R T A L S) [04:18]
11. “Nocturne” (P O R T A L S) [04:21]
12. “Eden” (P O R T A L S) [06:30]
13. “Of Energy” (P O R T A L S) [11:05]
14. “Seven Names” (P O R T A L S) [05:02]
P O R T A L S will be released on the following formats with pre-orders available on the TesseracT band webstore and Kscope label store from June 16 and other retailers from June 18 HERE.
LIMITED EDITION DELUXE 4 DISC BOOK EDITION: Blu-ray & DVD includes: P O R T A L S main feature • Behind the scenes documentary Live In The Lockdown • P O R T A L S hi res audio only version (all BD/DVD audio 48/24 PCM Stereo) • 2-CD P O R T A L S soundtrack • All presented in a lavish set with 40-page book containing exclusive pictures • Extensive liner notes from Amos Williams • Individually numbered art print.
The band webstore will exclusively sell a limited number of this set with the art prints signed by TesseracT – available from June 17.
BLU-RAY EDITION: P O R T A L S main feature • Behind the scenes documentary • Live In The Lockdown • P O R T A L S hi res audio only version (48/24 PCM Stereo)
3LP GATEFOLD/2CD EDITION/DIGITAL: The soundtrack to the stunning cinematic live experience P O R T A L S featuring tracks spanning the band’s career to date including “Nocturne,” “Seven Names,” and “King.”
Along with the release of the livestream event, the band will be playing its first live shows in almost two years this November and December, as special guests to Trivium in the UK and Europe, as well as returning to North American shores in 2022; see the band’s website for details.