A Skeptic's Universe

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A Skeptic's Universe
Studio album by Spiral Architect

Publication
(s)

1999/2000

admission

June 1998

Label (s) Sensory Records

Title (number)

9

running time

43:48

occupation
  • Guitar: Kaj Gornitzka
  • Bass : Lars K. Norberg
  • Drums : Asgeir Mickelson

production

Neil Kernon

Studio (s)

Village Productions, Tornillo, Texas Goldfish Soundlab, Oslo

A Skeptic's Universe is the only studio album to date by the Norwegian progressive metal band Spiral Architect . It was released on Sensory Records in late 1999 in Asia and early 2000 in Europe and the USA .

Creation and publication

In 1997, Spiral Architect signed a recording deal with Sensory Records and recorded their debut album in June 1998 mainly in Texas . It was mixed there in February 1999 by producer Neil Kernon . The Japanese edition had a red (instead of blue) colored cover and contained a Fates-Warning - cover as a bonus track. After the release of A Skeptic's Universe , Kaj Gornitzka was replaced by Andreas Jonsson. In September 2000 the band announced that they had begun rehearsals for a second album, which was later postponed again and again and has not yet been released.

Track list

  1. Spinning - 3:23
  2. Excessit - 6:14
  3. Moving Spirit - 3:44
  4. Occam's Razor - 1:33
  5. Insect - 5:54
  6. Cloud Constructor - 5:25
  7. Conjuring Collapse - 6:31
  8. Adaptability - 4:34
  9. Fountainhead - 6:30

style

Spiral Architect play fast and technical progressive metal on the album with many breaks , "tricky rhythms and vocal melodies, disciplined interaction, nimble bass, as well as acoustic, jazz-rock, oriental and other sprinkles". A stylistic relationship to Psychotic Waltz , Watchtower , Cynic and Sieges Even is recognizable. Øyvind Hægeland's vocals are also repeatedly compared to Buddy Lackey from Psychotic Waltz.

reception

The album was mostly positively received by the press, but for a long time it was only a little-known insider tip. Today it is considered a classic of progressive metal. Fierce from vampster points out that A Skeptic's Universe is an album “that you can only listen to at certain times and that is not suitable for being listened to on the side. The material is far too complex and often strenuous for that. ”Udo Gerhards from Babyblauen Seiten thinks that“ after halfway through the album at the latest, a certain uniformity sets in; it is [...] difficult to assign the individual titles even after a few listening sessions ”. Nik Brückner, however, praises: “Frickel addicts get their money's worth here, while fans who are more on the lookout for melodies don't have to be left out: 'A Skeptic's Universe' manages to build bridges in all possible directions, and that is his great merit. ”Boris Kaiser from Rock Hard sums up:“ You can save yourself the trouble of highlighting songs: 'A Skeptic's Universe' is the often cited total work of art, a […] 44-minute break best-of - and the last Consistently nothing less than absolutely indispensable. ”Both Rock Hard and eclipsed magazine included the album in their respective lists of the most important prog metal releases.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b spiralarchitect.com ( Memento from January 12, 2006 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on December 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ Baby Blue Prog Reviews: Spiral Architect. A Skeptic's Universe , Baby Blue Pages , accessed December 13, 2012.
  3. ↑ Michael Rensen: Spiral Architect. A Skeptic's Universe , Rock Hard # 156, accessed December 13, 2012.
  4. ↑ a b Fierce: Spiral Architect. A Skeptic's Universe , vampster , accessed December 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ a b Rock Hard No. 270, p. 94f.
  6. ↑ eclipsed No. 144, p. 31.