Hailed as ‘pioneers of a new form of expression’ through the performance of poetry in music, The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara (TCOMAS) are a UK-based duo comprising Daphne Ang (Singapore) and Andrea Papi (Italy) who came together in London in early 2020 to record their debut album, Full Spectrum, which they released on 26 February 2021. 

Since their inception, TCOMAS have established themselves as a formidable collaborative, producing thirteen very well-received singles and music videos, and two studio albums under their belt. The band’s sixth single, 'Love in the Time of Pestilence', graced several Spotify editorial playlists Alternative Metal,  situating TCOMAS amongst “the most innovative and forward thinking metal of today”. 

Drawing inspiration from many sources stemming from Tool through to Kraftwerk and Russian Circles, as well as absorbing the poetry of Virginia Woolf and Jim Morrison in their lyrics through their signature, ‘poetry performance,' TCOMAS fills a gap within music by bringing literature and history together into an arena where rock and metal meets electronica.  

Their innovative synthesis of music, poetry, and vision has not only contributed greatly to the world of progressive music, but also to environmental and social causes. Inspired by The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service (IPBES) Global Assessment, TCOMAS launched their debut album’s lead single, ‘At the Worlds End’ as a campaign to promote IPBES’s environmental research efforts, using their music video efforts to raise awareness on the negative effects of human actions on biodiversity and the environment.

Following the release of their debut album, the duo recorded their sophomore album, Trust No Leaders, between April and August 2021 at their studio in Camden Town, mixed by Philip Marsden and Andrea Papi, and mastered by Philip Marsden. Comprising 11 tracks lasting 39 minutes long, the album is a journey through heavy metal history — from its roots in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, up to the contemporary.   

Carving out worlds of their own — with guitar riffs and dynamic percussion provided by multi-instrumentalist Andrea, the new album is set against orchestral and cinematic soundscapes created by Daphne’s keys, poetry performance, and poignant lyrics. While rooted in Metal and Rock, the duo's forthcoming album is a confluence of instruments and influences drawn from non-western folk and classical musical traditions, including Native American and South American folk music, Vedic chants, and Indo-Persian classical music. The lyrical forms and vocal performance bring together elements from contemporary poetry, to Persian Classical poetry, theology, Jungian Psychology, and modern theatre.

Landing about 15 months after their debut album Full Spectrum, the duo’s sophomore LP expresses a more aggressive side to the band and was recorded last summer at TCOMAS’ studio in Camden Town, London. 

Discussing the new album’s motivation, The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara remarked: 

"The current crisis and the events of our time have made it necessary for us to analyse, investigate, and expose the issues in urgent need of systemic change by looking inwards into the human condition. We want the album to be a beacon of hope, for making a future that prioritises people and the environment." 

The new album has already received widespread media publicity, radio airplay, and film festival nominations from the release of five well-received singles and music videos. With 2 self-produced studio albums and a slew of very well-received singles and music videos under their belt, the London-based duo are certain to continue to break new ground in the way they innovate progressive music, literature, poetry, and visuals, as “artists of sound and vision”. 

The Chronicles of Manimal and Samara’s new album Trust No Leader is out now. and available to stream and download. The album is also available to stream and download. Purchase as limited edition CDs via tcomas.com/trust-no-leaders.