THE SHAM MIRRORS

It is so rare to hear an album so creative! There are many experimentations on this album, always welcomed and welll integrated (for example, the trip hop passage on "Nightmare Heaven"). The interventions of the piano are brilliant (the wonderful intro of "Star- Crossed").

The album seems to come from outer space. That's why it sounds so cold. The listener is wandering and drifting in space along the seven tracks of the album. There are also more agressive passages such as "Collapse Generation" and "Radical Cut" (where Ihsahn, the leader of Emperor, performs), but they still keep this atmosphere of coldness and loneliness in a vast outer space. Garm's vocals transcript very well these feelings. The listeners who can't stand black voices don't have to worry, these are only on "Radical Cut" (done by Ihsahn).

"The Sham Mirrors" is not easy listening, it requires to be heard many times to be enjoyed as it deserves.

This album, coming 6 years after the baroque"La Masquerade Infernale", confirms the uniqueness of sound and talent of the musicians of Arcturus.

"The Sham Mirrors" is definitely a masterpiece!!

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