Poland’s progressive metal trio Transgalactica just dropped their most explosive track yet, “Peace on Earth,” from their upcoming album Onwards and Upwards — and it’s a thunderclap of riffs, rage, and reflection. Built around a Tool-inspired groove and crowned by a Rachmaninov twist straight from “Island of the Dead,” the song smashes metal’s boundaries with symphonic precision and raw emotion. One reviewer nailed it, calling it “modern serious music.”
Written in 2021, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “Peace on Earth” channels the timeless ache of war, fear, and fragile hope. “Iron dice began to roll… Mushroom cloud is looming large,” sings the band in lyrics that hit harder with every headline. For the video, Transgalactica abandoned their trademark irony in favor of sincerity, dedicating the clip to Ukrainian soldiers. Created with a Sri Lankan collaborator, it’s a global tribute to humanity’s shared grief — and a warning that peace, though distant, is still worth fighting for.
Despite their futuristic sound, Transgalactica are proudly human-made. Every note on Onwards and Upwards was recorded before the AI era, though the band now uses artificial intelligence for visual storytelling and concept videos. “AI is just another tool,” they say — “like lithography or film — it can enhance creativity when used consciously.” Their visuals may be digital, but their heart is pure analog passion.
The band’s very name came from a dream — Tomasz imagining a spaceship called Transgalaktyk, ferrying Polish settlers to Mars while their music played in orbit. That dream now fuels their art: cosmic, fearless, and defiantly alive. Onwards and Upwards is shaping up to be their boldest voyage yet — proof that metal can question, confront, and still believe in peace on Earth.