Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

MIND TRIP IN A MINOR

Spiral

Psychedelic/Space Rock


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Spiral Mind Trip in A Minor album cover
3.47 | 13 ratings | 2 reviews | 8% 5 stars

Write a review

Buy SPIRAL Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Studio Album, released in 2012

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Part I - Watch My F**king Head (9:20)
2. Part II - Cave in the Oak (3:26)
3. Part III - Down the Rabbit Hole (7:48)
4. Part IV - In the Desert (5:13)
5. Part V - A Face in the Sand (3:40)
6. Part VI - Ritual of the Snake (6:36)
7. Part VII - Half of What He Gives (3:26)
8. Part VIII - The Snake (9:03)
9. Part IX - The Way Out is the Way In (5:15)


Line-up / Musicians

-Chris Walker / Lead Guitar
-Aaron Frale / Guitar, Vocals
-Chris Boat / Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar

Guest Artists:
-Felicia Karas / Violin on track 9
-Casey Mraz / Guitar on tracks 4 and 5

Releases information

Streaming/CD info: www.thespiral.bandcamp.com/album/mind-trip-in-a-minor
Released June 29, 2012

Thanks to finnforest for the addition
Edit this entry

Buy SPIRAL Mind Trip in A Minor Music



SPIRAL Mind Trip in A Minor ratings distribution


3.47
(13 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(8%)
8%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(42%)
42%
Good, but non-essential (25%)
25%
Collectors/fans only (17%)
17%
Poor. Only for completionists (8%)
8%

SPIRAL Mind Trip in A Minor reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by DamoXt7942
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams
3 stars Met more energetic, more drone desert rock, with unsuitable artificial noises.

Suppose "Mind Trip In A Minor" might be another place where "The Traveler" has got on. Their play, just like squeezing heavy sandstorm out, is heavier, deeper and tighter than on the previous creation indeed, and especially Chris (Walker) plays the guitar more simply, more sensitively, and more directly, in fourth / fifth tracks "In The Desert / A Face In The Sand" ... sounds like the masterpiece in this album for me, very challenging. Basically dry and hot sunbeam sounds are in the same vein of "The Traveler", but quite simple riffs have got more of drone and more of slime like delicious death agony. Although enough "Neues" cannot be heard anymore, their strong policy / guideline for "Desert Rock" should be maintained I imagine. Upon this point their instrumental section can be terrific. On the other hand, let me say that I wonder the reason they'd processed their voices with an effector. Their voices may be far from good, but unpolished, smokey voices could have been one of their mysterious addictions of sound, right? Yes, whether fine or poor, their vocal can be one of their characteristics on playing. Artificially effector-based voices can be only vexing noises for me, that might kick their original fantasy away sadly.

For us progressive rock freaks, what does the word "progressive" mean? A pleasure to find something new I consider. We will find something newer upon their works in future ... hope so.

Review by Finnforest
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Beware the snake. He always takes half of what he gives.

Spiral is a prolific band from the southwestern United States whose surroundings influence every fiber of their surreal and dark progressive rock. Chris Boat and Aaron Frale are self proclaimed children of the desert. Having grown up amongst the lonely stretches of cacti and stars they note that their music "breathes sand." That tradition certainly continues in their latest epic release titled "Mind Trip in A Minor." It was intended as one long track but had to be split into chapters for website considerations. The album is a diversion from their massive Ruins trilogy but it features yet another strange and provocative story that is the Spiral trademark. This time out the Spiral duo welcome a new member to the fold, guitarist Chris Walker. They are also joined by some wonderful recurring guests in Casey Mraz and Felicia Karas.

"Mind Trip" is a journey indeed and once again Spiral creates music and storyline which support each other. Here the tale is like some dark fable where one is trapped in a cyclical nightmare. Our character awakens in a horrible dream littered with bodies and visions, he travels through a maze and finds a little girl who joins him. Never far away is the snake who represents collective fear and things unknowable. I won't give away the conclusion as it will be more enjoyable to discover yourself. But the point is that the music perfectly mirrors the darkness of the tale, where the repeating musical phrases convey the fact that story repeats itself over and over. As always, the question is how to stop the madness and we don't know if our character can. The feelings this would invoke are expressed quite well by the band and they are not always pleasant. Spiral has made some difficult albums and "Mind Trip" is no exception. If you have trouble with harsh sounding albums you'd best start with one of their earlier works.

This album requires the patient listener unplug from the world's distractions and enter the trip as an involved party. Ominous and thick, heavy and chunky guitars move like tanks across a battlefield....often slow and lumbering with a similar oppressive drumming. Chris and Aaron share vocals I believe, but I think it is Chris who can create the sound of dying with his shrieks....he will be relatively quiet and eerie with this shimmering effect on the soft vocals, disorienting and uneasy for the listener....and then he will just unload and God help you if you're not prepared. It can be extremely harsh, unpleasant at first, after some time the approach unveils itself and makes sense. It can make for a powerful listening session for the listener willing to commit to a dark room and good headphones. They also nail the lead guitar work wonderfully...this time out the leads have a more focused, succinct edge which I appreciate more than simply long form jamming.

After an unrelentingly savage opener is the marvelous "Cave in the Oak" which reminds me (again) of an Antonius Rex track, so visual, with haunting guitar chords and these keyboards that sound like harpsichord first and then wordless female vocals later, with simple melodic keyboard notes, floating atmospheres, and heavy bass line. Really sweet track! "In the Desert" is another breather from the heavier tracks at least with the music. There is a nice acoustic guitar line that repeats and repeats, again the circular, while the story discusses the "naked bestial creature" eating his own bitter heart with enjoyment. The only moment of levity comes in "A Face in the Sand" when our character meets a little girl, the lone bit of sweetness in this dark world. Both already understand it will not end well but choose to spend the short time together anyway. She has been trapped in the nightmare for ages and he genuinely wants to help, for which he will pay a heavy price.

The album alternates several times between long, grueling rock pieces and shorter, softer interludes which offer time to regroup. It eventually culminates in the horror of "The Snake", a 9-minute depiction of "everything you fear". More brutal drumming, extreme vocals, and heavy power chords that explode in finale, before a softer guitar solo and more pleasing keyboards drift off into the next tale down the line. The closing track is quite special. Felicia Karas returns and does what she always does for Spiral. Her strings introduce a completely different and exquisite color and texture to music that can be quite intense. Set against sad keyboard lines and acoustic, her violin to me represents the gaze of the two characters on each other as our story reaches its sad conclusion (or does it?), and in fact she doubles them up....laying one violin line over the other....a very cool effect!

Once again the album art is fantastic and worthy of your wall. "Mind Trip in A Minor" would be on my list of memorable 2012 releases and you can get a copy or sample a stream at thespiral.bandcamp.com.

Latest members reviews

No review or rating for the moment | Submit a review

Post a review of SPIRAL "Mind Trip in A Minor"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.