The Story
Born in London, United Kingdom in early 2020, The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara (TCOMAS), the origins of the duo are very diverse: Daphne Ang (Vocals, Piano, Keyboards) was born in Singapore, and Andrea Papi (Guitars, Bass, Vocals) hails from Italy. Since their inception, TCOMAS have established themselves as a formidable pair, breaking new ground in the way they combine progressive music, poetry, and visuals. Described to be one of “the most important British-based band of the decade” (Ever Metal), TCOMAS have carved a niche for themselves for incorporating the performance of poetry in heavy music to create a form of expression that has become synonymous with TCOMAS (Right Chord, V13).
TCOMAS introduced themselves to the world with the release of their first ever single “Atoms” on July 31, 2020. taken from their debut album, Full Spectrum (released February 26, 2021) which captured the imaginations of new listeners with their blend of electronic rock and metal and pioneering their niche of poetry performance. Comprising 11 tracks lasting over 67 minutes long, the duo composed and recorded Full Spectrum in lockdown at their home studio in Camden Town, London at the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Full Spectrum saw the release of 7 singles and music videos, most notably “Love in the Time of Pestilence," which graced several official Spotify playlists (Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal). Named "Album of the Year" by several notable music blogs, the record is a multi-disciplinary interplay of poetry, art, history, and the theatrical, blending metal, rock, and prog with electronica and ambient, taking listeners through the ‘full spectrum’ of human experience and emotion.
In their sophomore album, Trust No Leaders (released July 1, 2022), the duo further enhanced and refined their niche and innovation – Heavy Metal fused with literature, poetry, and art (FemMetal). Recorded between April and August 2021 in London, United Kingdom, the album's 11 tracks weave a journey through heavy metal history — from its roots in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, up to the contemporary. The lyrics touch heavily on intellectual themes and subjects of modern political corruption, ecological grief, war, dystopia and aspects of consciousness. Detailing the early impetus for the album, Andrea remarked, “We revisited the roots of metal, and drew inspiration from music from the past and present, east and west." Set against orchestral and cinematic soundscapes, the songs also pay tribute to non-Western musical traditions, including Native American and South American folk music, Vedic chants, and Indo-Persian classical music, with lyrical forms and vocal performances that bring together elements from contemporary poetry, Persian classical poetry, theology, Jungian psychology, and modern theatre.
Elaborating on what initially inspired the record, Andrea shared, “We wrote Trust No Leaders over the last national lockdown in the UK, which forced us to take a deep look at the current and grim state of affairs. It was necessary for us to analyse, investigate, and expose the issues in urgent need of systemic change". Commenting on the album’s initial creative impetus, Daphne comments. “The increasing chaos and uncertainty in the world fuelled the album's initial creative direction. The pandemic, the destruction of the natural world, new wars, rising prices, protests and uprisings, political upheaval and freak natural disasters that were happening around us provided the backdrop for writing the album. ‘Trust No Leaders’ is a personal journey that steered us through the anxiety of these trying and scary times while also preparing the future and what it has in store for all of us, living in a world where our leaders cannot be trusted.”
Dubbed by TUTV as “architects in sound and vision” for their visual inventiveness in their videos and artworks, the pair have unveiled 15 self-produced music videos to date. Their music videos have been screened globally at numerous international film festivals, receiving 52 official selections and nominations, most notably at the Tokyo International Short Film Festival, The Tsiolkovsky International Space Film Festival, Xposure International Photography & Film Festival, and the Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival.
Following the early 2023 release of “Hypermetamorphosis” - their final single and video from their sophomore album Trust No Leaders, a much deserved time to rest, reflect and recharge was needed. “After the release of our second album ‘Trust No Leaders’ in mid-2022, we decided that we needed to take some time to contemplate on the next steps for our music. It was much needed as composing, recording, producing, releasing, and marketing two albums, 15 singles and music videos independently in a span of two years was no easy feat,” notes Andrea Papi.
In early 2024, the duo announced their return with the release of new ‘Opera Metal’ song “Mysterium Tremendum". The upcoming new single and video, to be released on February 23, 2024, provides a first glimpse into the pair’s return after two busy years of activity. Written and recorded between December 2022 and October 2023, the new track “Mysterium Tremendum” merges metal and classical music, containing sections with classical piano and a full orchestra performed and put together entirely by the duo - Daphne Ang (vocals, piano, keyboards), Andrea Papi (vocals, guitars, bass). Much like in opera, the song combines music and poetry, where the melodic (aria) and recitative (parlando) vocals by Ang coalesce with dissonant metal vocals by Papi.
Andrea Papi on the new song, “I would describe “Mysterium Tremendum” as being ‘Opera Metal’. It contains musical and lyrical elements that gives the work a perfect combination of ‘heaviness’ that is both melancholic and brutal.”
“The song contains a large section with a full orchestra, which took me a long time to compose and arrange. It took a long time to record all the individual instruments in the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections, and for Andrea to get the orchestral effects right in the mixing stage. It was a real challenge, but it was mostly a rewarding experience, as we made it purely a TCOMAS effort,” Daphne Ang, comments on the orchestral sections of the new song
According to the duo, the new work explores the concept of “mysterium tremendum et fascinans” which is the dual nature of the experience of the numinous, a mystery (mysterium) that is at once terrifying (tremendum) and awe-inspiring, before which humanity both trembles and is fascinated (fascinans).
“I came across this concept in Das Heilige (The Idea of the Holy), a book by Rudolf Otto”, Daphne Ang notes. “We named the new track “Mysterium Tremendum” as the meaning of this abstract concept really comes alive in the music and words. It is the raw, enduring, and barbaric pain that pierces deep into the soul, which may then develop into something pure, beautiful and glorious. It is the totality of the highest and lowest points of our existence.”
Accompanying the new single, the pair will release a self-produced animated music video for the track created under their video and visual production arm, TCOMAS Studio. Set in warring Ancient Rome and Medieval Europe, the video combines traditional 2D and 3D animation with AI video technology to recreate the life story and journey of the anti-hero’s experience of the ‘Mysterium Tremendum’.
THE CHRONICLES MANIMAL AND SAMARA ARE:
DAPHNE ANG
Vocals, Piano, Keyboard
ANDREA PAPI
Vocals, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Programming
Selected press
"The Chronicles Of Manimal And Samara are THE most important British-based band of the past ten years.
Their uniqueness is unparalleled, and their power unquestionable."
“The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara have opened the cracks of the musical world making what you can only say is a beginning of a new genre of music.
Their music mixes expressional musical layers laced with dramatic performance poetry...Their debut album, Full Spectrum is ...an expression and a piece of art beyond music.”
“Daphne and Andrea sure are a dream team, combination of their awesome amazing skills has created this high form of art that imitates life. The whole spectrum of the record is truly the Full Spectrum of emotions, experiencing, amazing divine music, art, divine spiritual philosophy, great messages...
One of the best records out there, an artistic masterpiece of divine art and free will...10/10”
"The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara, the most intriguing act of 2020? You bet. Why?
Because of their mesmerizing way of combining music with poetry in sound and vision.
Because of the way they embed their open-minded and progressive views on political and social issues in arresting sonic poems and sagas. Because of the fact they introduced themselves to the world these past bizarre 12 months with no less than six remarkable singles. And last but not least because of their overall empathetic and human approach."
"The duo are making quick work of finding their authentic niche in music...as an act that slides effortlessly between wide-reaching spectrums of music – from elegantly poetic to exuberantly dramatic
– it’s fitting their forthcoming independent album is named Full Spectrum."