Waited for three years after the release of the previous and marvellous record “The Sham Mirrors”, this “Sideshow Symphonies”shows as more important news the come- back of Simen Hestnæs, or better known like ICS Vortex, just guest on “La Masquerade Infernale”, and now he has taken the place behind microphone of His Majesty Garm, or Kristoffer Rygg, after the coming out of “The Sham Mirrors”. The opening of this forth full-lenght falls on “Hibernation Sickness Complete”, a very interesting track, well interpreted by Vortex’s melancholic singing and by an excellent guitar-work of the duet Malle-Valle. Instinctively, this track, but above all the next “Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer”, remembers the Borknagar from Quintessence’s period, in which Simen was present. Despite of this similarity, we have two excellent tracks, very melancholic and dreaming, but also technical and refined as we expect from a group of this level. I think that a more relevant place falls on the second track, that tells about the solitude and the madness felt by a poor astronaut drifting in the space after the collapse of the general core of his spaceship. The music is wonderful and the vocal interpretation of Vortex reaches incredible emotional peaks. But, after this two tracks, the entire cd goes down into a limbo of boredom and heaviness that I wouldn’t have ever expected from Arcturus. Next three tracks go away without leaving something, the vocal parts of Simen results boring, while music is a vain attempt to resume and assemble different parts taken randomly from the old works of the band. In “Evacuation Code Deciphered” comes to light strong Pink Floyd influences from The Wall’s period. Luckily, the record partially raises up with the long “Moonshine Delirium”, a track that makes me remember their first and great release “Aspera Hiems Symphonia”, refined by a great guitar solo, and the instrumental “Reflections” where Arcturus makes come out the musical madness much appreciated on “La Masquerade Infernale”. About the two remaining songs, “White Noise Monster”, and the final “Hufsa” I make the same speech made before, well played and structured tracks but without emotions inside. In short, from what you have understood in this review, this “Sideshow Symphonies” is a very swinging release from a quality point of view. Personally, what has struck me negatively is the little presence of Sverd, who limits himself to classic border sounds and he rarely goes into prog solos o strange things like he made in the past. The guitar work is more present than the keyboards one, and the guitars result the real central engine of the tracks. Even Hellhammer, that he usually put into Arcturus his technical qualities, now limits himself to ordinary things. Boh, onestly I don’t know how explain to myself this half false step, even if not everything is to throw away. But, I wouldn’t have ever expected from Arcturus to miss a record in this way.

P.S.: this review is translated from italian from the original one made for elskrin.net

ARCTURUS — Sideshow Symphonies

What a great album we have here... Everything is almost perfect! Also important to consider is the 48-bit mastering used for HRS. Only one thing to say: truly a masterpiece of progressive music, a touch of perfection... Go for it and let the symphonies begin!

ARCTURUS — Sideshow Symphonies

Fantastic album. Don't listen to those who say it doesn't live up to Sham Mirrors - it is certainly on par with it and what it lacks in experimentation it makes up for with sheer emotion and climatic beauty.

he follow up to the magnificent debut. This album is good, but nowhere as great as the previous one. The music is very similar: Prog Metal covers of Final Fantasy tunes. Some of these are not as well known as the ones in the first album, but I've grown to like most of those. The prog feel is a bit lost here, and there are less keys.

The Rocking Grounds begins the album in a high note, a rocking battle tune with memorable melodies. There's a keyboard riff that marks a different tempo which is done very well. Zeromus is a bit more complex and one of the proggiest tracks in the album. There is a lot going in there! Vamo' Alla Flamenco, as its title suggests, is influenced by flamenco. Both acoustic and electric, this is a groovy piece with a great flamenco section in the middle. Another soft metal piece with good melodies. The song is a bit upbeat and contain a wild moment around 2 minutes into the track. Good synthesizer work here. Matoya's Cave is easily the best track in the album. It is one of the few tracks where The Black Mages soften up a bit. The song starts acoustically, goes through brilliant bluesy music with keyboard soloing, guitar soloing, and the great melodic theme. A man with the Machine Gun is a fast paced metal song with a weak theme, but a wild soloing section saves it. Maybe I'm a Lion has good guitar work, but it is not one of the highlights. The ending is good though. Blue Blast is not great, but it succeeds at being a hard-rocker that closes the album.

Overworld just does not work. The original was a death metal song with grunts, while this is softer and has a female vocalist way out of place. The Skies above is a disaster. It begins with the piano theme of Final Fantasy 10 but unexpectedly goes through metal riffery very out of place. This is the proggiest track of the album, but also the worst one. The singer ruin what . It just mutilates the song. Lastly, Battle with Four fiends is not bad, but not interesting enough.

Posted Thursday, June 01, 2006, 16:18 EST | Permanent link