• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Where to start this review is the hardest thing. Put together a band that features the talents of the musicians comprising Arcturus and then sitting back and listening to their latest masterpiece and the same thing will happen to you… speechless, amazed, astounded. I am literally damn near at a loss for words on how to describe how good this album is from stat to finish. The background of this band includes some of the very best and well respected bands in the scene today including Mayhem, Ulver and even a guest appearance by Ihsahn of the former thought of masters of black metal Emperor.

So all this background and respect you might think this would end up creating to much hype for a band to live up to but with "The Sham Mirrors" they not only live up to the hype they surpass the lofty expectations set by fans and critics alike. From beginning to end this album simply screams quality. From the songwriting to the vocals and down to each and every instrument this is simply a kick ass album. The terms innovative, brilliant and spell binding have been getting used a lot for more than a few bands on The End Records label but this may well be the best album of the group and that is saying something.

There is just so much going on within the confines of these 43 minutes it seems to only last a quarter of that time. The album simply flies by and the next thing you know you are pressing the repeat button on your CD player. The only problem I have with this album is simply finding a suitable way of describing what a person that has never heard of this band can expect and about the only thing I can really come up with is to simply say buy the album… I just don’t see a way that anyone that likes any of the bands that these musicians are affiliated with would not like this and for those of you that are not familiar with these other groups just buy the damn album anyway… :)