Spiral Architect - A Sceptic's Universe (2000)

Track Listing:

1. Spinning
2. Excessit
3. Moving spirit
4. Occam's razor
5. Insect
6. Cloud constructor
7. Conjuring collapse
8. Adaptability
9. Fountainhead

Lineup:

• Øyvind Hægeland
• Steinar Gundersen
• Kaj Gornitzka
• Lars K. Norberg
• Asgeir Mickelson

this should have come with a warning note "may cause melting of the brain"

when other progressive metal bands play progressive music just to sound really cool & technical, they mostly end up sounding like disjointed jam sessions. Spiral Architect on the other hand, make it possible to play highly technical music, without falling into pieces.

this band comprises of members playing in several black metal bands, is probably Europe's answer to America's CYNIC. plenty of influences can be heard here, from the classic YES, to the psychotic WATCHTOWER, to the weirdness of CYNIC, and yet, this album has its own originality.

this is what they have to say about their music on their official website
"Spiral Architect is about continual development, idealism, and intensity. Spiral Architect is controlled anarchy. The aim is to make music that challenges the listener, as well as pushes the abilities of the musicians and man."

this music seriously sounds like the members are aliens from another planet. If CYNIC"S FOCUS took like 10 listens to digest, this one requires a 100 listens. this music is just not meant for everyone, & thats whats so special about it.
the progression makes DREAM THEATER sound like a circus act, while the vocalist Øyvind Hægeland mimcs Devon Graves of PSYCHOTIC WALTZ. his high pitched vocals are just superb.

the guitarists shred the guitar to bits, & the drumming of Asgeir Mickelson who also plays with BORKNAGAR, VINTERSORG & IHSAHN, among others, is simply mind blowing.

this is the musical equivalent of a 10 year old kid(that being us) trying to figure out calculus (that being the album)

truley jaw dropping musicianship this

my rating
10/10

review by Pritham 'Metal farmer' D'Souza