Transatlantic emerged in 1999 as a progressive rock supergroup, uniting four renowned musicians from established bands to create epic, symphonic compositions that revived the spirit of classic 1970s prog. The founding lineup consisted of Neal Morse, then the frontman of Spock's Beard, on vocals and keyboards; Mike Portnoy, the drummer and co-founder of Dream Theater; Roine Stolt, the guitarist and vocalist of The Flower Kings; and Pete Trewavas, the bassist of Marillion. Their collective pedigree immediately positioned them as a major force within the modern progressive rock scene.

The band's debut album, "SMPT:e", released in 2000, served as their definitive claim to fame. The title was a play on the members' initials and the SMPTE timecode used in audio engineering, symbolizing their meticulous, studio-crafted approach. The album was celebrated for its ambitious, multi-part suites and intricate musicianship, seamlessly blending the distinct styles of its members into a cohesive and powerful sound. It successfully captured the attention of prog enthusiasts worldwide, establishing Transatlantic as more than a mere side project.

Building on this momentum, the group released "Bridge Across Forever" in 2001, which featured the side-long epic "Duel with the Devil" and included a guest appearance by Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation. The album was both a critical and commercial success within the genre, solidifying their reputation for crafting grandiose, melodic, and technically proficient music. However, activity halted when Neal Morse left Spock's Beard in 2002 to pursue a solo Christian music career, placing Transatlantic on an indefinite hiatus.

The band reconvened in 2009, surprising fans with a new studio album, "The Whirlwind", a single continuous 77-minute piece. This triumphant return was followed by extensive touring and further recordings. They released "Kaleidoscope" in 2014 and "The Absolute Universe" in 2021, the latter existing in two distinct versions. Throughout their sporadic but impactful career, Transatlantic has been celebrated for their masterful musicianship and their dedication to the epic song structures and conceptual depth of progressive rock's golden age. They remain a beloved and influential collective, their work representing a pinnacle of collaboration in the modern prog landscape.