Arcturus: The Sham
Mirrors
 Many,
many moons ago, back when the world was young and most of its people lived in
blissful ignorance of “The Internet”, I was a member of a small but elite
group that prowled the young electronic networks that would, eventually, grow into
the World Wide Web. One of my favorite haunts was in a computer-based simulation
game of interstellar conquest and economic development called “Stellar Emperor”. He
who led his team to victory won the dubious title of “Emperor of the Galaxy”. Along
with it, came an engraved silver cup (real silver, mind you) and a certificate for
doing what very few had ever done or hoped to do in those days. Never mind the fact
that it usually cost around $36/hour to play this game. I was a team leader and
became Emperor on three separate occasions, over a period of several years. My team
alternated leaders and we were the second most winning team in game history. We were
the Arcturan Empire - name after the brightest star in the constellation of Bootes,
Arcturus.
Alas though, those days are long gone and that game has been consigned to the scrap
heap of ancient text-based interface games that modern Web surfers probably don’t
even know existed for the most part!
What does this have to do with Music? Ahhh! Well...ummm.... Nothing. Except maybe
that I received a copy Arcturus: The Sham Mirrors a couple months ago and was asked
to review it. I guess I kind of have a soft spot in my heart for anything relating
to Arcturus! Silly, maybe, but too true.
Being in a band and traveling around doing shows, especially metal and prog
festivals, gives one the opportunity to meet many bands and musicians that would
otherwise be unknown to the masses (remember what modern radio DOESN’T play for all
of us prog and metal fans!). It also gives one the chance to learn about a lot of
bands that, while they may not be playing the current festival, are well known and
respected within the “circle”.
Arcturus was one of these bands for me. I had never heard them, though I had heard
OF them on many occasions. The name, as mentioned above, caught my attention and I
was looking forward to hearing what secrets this new disc had engraved on its shiny
surface. I knew too that Arcturus had a reputation for being a heavier, power-metal
oriented band.
I have to admit, I am not a diehard fan of this kind of music. Constant 16 or
32-second beat kick drum (the kind no REAL drummer could ever hope to play
constantly for over 5 seconds live), loud, demonic screaming and super heavy totally
distorted guitars just don’t do much for me. Based on what I had heard about this
band prior to my first listen, I wasn’t too sure I was going to like it.
But, you know, that’s the beauty of music. A good band, no matter what kind of music
they actually play, can kick you in the ass and take you by surprise without much
effort. I listened to The Sham Mirrors several times, all the way through, non-stop.
I even played several cuts on our Seismic Radio show. This particular disc does
indeed have heavy metal guitars, lots of super high-speed in-your-face kick drum,
and some death defying demonic vocals.
BUT! Unlike a lot of bands in this genre, this disc also has some cool techno beats
and keyboards/syth work, some quieter, very well played (and arranged)
spacey/ethereal parts and a lot of great hooks in the music. The opening track,
“Kinetic”, kicks! Nice arrangement, great hi-hat sound, cool power chords, nice
vocal harmonies and some cool synth effects to boot. Yeah. Good opening! Two other
very excellent tracks are “Ad Absurdum” (track 3) and “Star Crossed” (track 5) which
opens with a nice piano and synth sweep.
I guess one could say that what I hear on this CD is heavy power/prog metal with
depth and dynamics. A lot of bands like this do not realize the power of not always
being in your face from start to finish - or the power of depth and dynamic.
Arcturus has mastered it on this release.
I give this one 9
out of 10 keyboards (or would that be 9 out of 10 kick drums?)
Rowen Poole
Visit the artist website:
Arturus
:: Additional
Contributors ::
Recorded in various spaces, times and formats from 2000 to 2002 || Sound recordists:
G., Valle and Johnsen || Mixed by Tore Ylwizaker at ambassaden, jan. 2002 || Music
by Johnsen. Lyrics by G., except tracks 4 and 6 by H. || Produced by G. and Phantom
fx || Mastered by Tom la Bomba at strype audio ||
Check out the Arcturus MP3 "
Star-crossed "
available on our
MP3 page
:: DISCOGRAPHY ::
My Angel, 7" - 1991
Constellation, MCD - 1993
Aspera Hiems Symfonia, CD - 1995
La Masquerade Infernale, CD - 1997
Disguised Masters, CD - 1999
The Sham Mirrors, CD/LP - 2002
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