BOOK OF HORIZONS

SECRET CHIEFS 3 is the project of Trey Spruance who some will know as MR BUNGLE, and even more will know his FAITH NO MORE music. Trey has a clear vision of mixing styles of music that don't really go together. Extreme vocals and music that bring Death Metal to the fore, to that baritone guitar bringing Surf Music to mind, but the topper is the ethnic music which is strong here as it is with all SECRET CHIEFS 3 music. This record is all over the place, and that isn't my thing at all.

My first taste of their music was back in 2019 with this album "Book Of Horizons" that was released in 2004, and this was not a good place to start. It took me a year after spending time with record this to garner the courage to pick up the album before this called "Book M", as well as the followup "Xaphan:Book Of Angels". This is such a unique project with there being all of these satellite bands involved in their music including on this album. In fact every track on this album was performed by a satellite band including THE ELECTROMAGNETIC AZOTH, UR, TRADITIONALISTS, ISHRAQIYUN, HOLY VEHM and FORMS. Just different.

The first three tracks on here were tolerable but then we get hit with "Exterminating Angel" and extreme music. Track six is the best up to that point. It's called "The Exile" and it sounds like part of a soundtrack to a movie. "On The Wings Of The Haoma" is pretty good, I like the spacey section, but my favourite song is "Book T:Exodus" where it feels like I'm listening to music from a Western movie but it works! More extreme music follows, plus experimental stuff, and then more Arabic music before another favourite "Anthropomorphosis: Boxleitner". Not into the closer either.

I had such a hard time with this record, I'm surprised I pursued this band further. But I'm so impressed with the genius of Spruance, and the serious musicians that are on here. This band has a cult following for a reason, and their live shows have to be experienced to be believed.