BOOK M

3.5 stars. My first experience with this band was "Book Of Horizons" which I found very difficult, it was all over the map. Just too extreme at times for my tastes. I can handle death metal and growls, but I have no interest in going there after checking that stuff out years before. Just not my thing. So "Book Of Horizons" was probably the worst album I could have started with when it comes to SECRET CHIEFS 3.

It took me a full year to finally re-visit this band after that experience. I decided to pick up "Book M" because of it's high ratings, as well as "Xaphan: Book Of Angels" for the claim that it was a little different the rest. "Book M" was released before "Book Of Horizons" and if nothing else that latter album prepared me at least for what was coming on "Book M". Similar sounding record really but not nearly as extreme. Still, it's that amalgamation of styles and that strong Arabian sound that just isn't my thing at all.

A lot of electronics here and drum/bass moments. "Dolorous Stroke" stands out from the rest in my opinion as being more what I'm into, but this band if nothing else never ceases to amaze me for the complexity and top notch instrumental work. Trey Spruance the leader and multi-instrumentalist had this vision and he's sticking to it. The result is a very devoted fan base who are probably throwing virtual tomatoes at me right now.

After spending a week with this I really didn't relish the thought of spending time with another SECRET CHIEFS 3 record. So imagine my surprise when I spun "Xaphan: Book Of Angels" for the first time, and through that whole first spin I was waiting for the shoe to drop, but it never did. John Zorn had a lot to do with that. Review to come.