The Sham Mirrors

Arcturus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The End Records
• ASIN: B000063DHS
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,933 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kinetic

2. Nightmare Heaven

3. Ad Absurdum

4. Collapse Generation

5. Star-Crossed

6. Radical Cut

7. For To End Yet Again

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wild., November 27, 2002

By 

IcemanJ (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Sham Mirrors (Audio CD)

This is a very intricate, intense album. I can't really compare to their earlier albums, don't have them yet, but i will get them soon. Keyboards are very well played, especially the intro to "Star-Crossed" and throughout "Collapse Generation," and the drumming is amazing, of course. Arcturus isn't afraid to innovate, as they do with songs like the chaotic "Radical Cut" with its weird lyrics and VERY SHORT BUT AWESOME solo at the end, "kinetic" with its industrial noises, and "For to End Yet Again" with its long ambiant part. The songs are heavy, but there is mostly clean singing, which usually has some good melodies. There is also some eerie "evil circus" melodies that Arcturus does best. I don't know if you would exactly call this black metal, maybe some form of more melodic, alternative, experimental black metal. Regardless, if you're into Scandinavian metal, this should be a CD that belongs in your collection.

You can download "Star-Crossed" at the label's website. It should give you a general understanding of what most of the songs are like, and if you like it you'll like the rest of the album.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This will take you to another world, October 26, 2006

By 

John "Ira" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sham Mirrors (Audio CD)

This, is easily in my top 15 albums of all time. This is beautiful, neo-classical Black Metal. While I always enjoyed Arcturus, this album took them to a new level, that few bands have even come close to reaching. The futuristic atmosphere/lyrics really seperate this band from the crowd. Plus, having members of Mayhem/Kovenant/Thorns/Ulver can't really hurt you when it comes to getting noticed. The reason I began investigating this band was Hellhammer, he is my favorite drummer period. His work on here is magical. Not as fast as later Mayhem but so well put together, he really sparks here. The keyboards here, are nothing short of beautiful. Sometimes they are in front of everything and they are the most powering insturment at the moment. Then other times, they blend in with the rest, to create something much bigger than itsself. Then, the almost classical guitar riffs will impress any musician and non musician alike.

This was definetly a departure for Arcturus, compared to the last few albums they released (and its a WHOLE different band from their Death Metal roots) As geeky as this sounds, it almost has an outerspace type vibe to it. Mostly because of Johnsen, whos magic behind the keys is hard to be matched (i.e Kinetic, Star-crossed, and For To End Yet Again) Also, you will notice the lyrical content, reflects the new found neo-classical outerspace vibe of this album. Much different than the anti Christian lyrics they had in years now passed. If you love the atmosphere that bands like Nokturnal Mortum, Anthems era Emperor and Limbonic Art then i'm sure you will definetly find enjoyment in this album.


Another positive for this album, is the vocals. They are all clean and Rex does not hold back like I felt he may have (even just a little) on previous Arcturus releases. now, it would be just as interesting to hear this with the dark normal vocals of Black Metal but I feel the singing adds to the beauty which Hellhammer(drums, Johnsen (keyboards), Valle (guitars) and Gravem(bass) create. It all comes together as a whole to create the magnum opus for Arcturus. TO further my point, everything balances itsself out. You don't feel like one thing is stronger than the other. Everything is well balanced and everybody in the group seemed to be on the same wave length. I can't say that one played better than the other here as everything is equal as could be. This is definetly recommended for any Arcturus fan.


1. "Kinetic" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 5:25

One of my favorite songs ever by any band. The guitars just plays this beautiful riff in the intro, to be added is Rex's beautiful vocals. Then they welcome you and the journey begins.....This is definetly the best example of everything playing off each other, one minute there is beautiful atmosphere literally dripping from the keyboards which slips perfectly into another amazing riff. Another reason I love this song, is that after the intro of this song plays out, Rex's vocals almost seem under water and then they explode in perfection. As Rex sings with melancholy the last few vocal lines, the beautiful keyboards in the final moments announce the departure of this amazing piece known as "Kinetic"


2. "Nightmare Heaven" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 6:05

There is little to be asked from this song, simply because it gives it to you within the first minute. Unlike the previous song, there is no waiting no anticipation as it starts going full speed from the start. I personally really enjoy the atmosphere from the bridge in this song, it follows more beautiful keyboards and it is almost an industrial type feel. It slowed the song down to a halt until exploding into a classical riff. The best part of this song though, has to be the final 90 seconds, between Rex's high vocals and the guitars/keyboards almost in a race together, blending speed and beauty into each other. You couldn't ask for much more as the heavy outro fades.


3. "Ad Absurdum" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 6:48

The first thing I noticed here, was the violins at the intro, Th seem to almost bounce. I don't really like Rex's vocals at the start of this song, he seems to drag them on a little too long. After a moment of spoken word, this problem is fixed and I really like the riff that follows, definetly Black Metal influenced. It continues throughout a good portion of the song, just at different speeds.While this is not one of my favorite songs, it is still a wonderful song driven by the keyboard outro and the riffs.


4. "Collapse Generation" (H., Hellhammer, Johnsen) - 4:13

The shortest song here, is also the fastest. A quick violin intro, is soon followed by Hellhammer giving an incredible performance behind the kit. This in my opinion, might be his best work here. The keyboards here are fast as well. There is not one dull moment in this song. The keyboards blend perfectly here. At the two minute mark, it does slow down (for a minute or so). The keyboards turn to almost that of a childs music box and it almost sounds disturbing. Before your thrown back to reality by Rex's vocals.


5. "Star-Crossed" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 5:01

The closest thing to topping Kinetic in my eyes. The keyboards here flow together well and are very classical. The type of ting you never want to stop and they seem to get darker as Johnsen goes on before they speed up and you really see how amazing Johnsen is at what he does. My jaw was dropping as I heard him. Then it drops and Rex doesn't sing per say but almost spoken word but not quite. Then his vocals really kick in at about the same time as Johnsen's keyboards return. No offense to the rest of the band but this is Johnsen's song, plain and simple. He shines here.

6. "Radical Cut" (H., Hellhammer, Johnsen) - 5:08

Ihsahn!! The only Black Metal vocals are given by one of the best. Ihsahn of Emperor. This is definetly an interesting song as the riffs and keyboards that have made this album so great thus far are present, yet the keyboards seem Emperor influenced from the start and Hellhammer definetly was prepared as he gives an amazing performance. Him and Ihsahn work well together. The keyboards near the end, actually seem electronical if you listen careful enough. All in all, an amazing performance.

7. "For to End Yet Again" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 10:33

The first few mintues of this long farewell, had me asking what is this trash....as the keyboards in the intro just seemed dumb, boring and cheesy but little did I know, how beautiful this song would turn out to be. First off Rex gives his best vocal performance and so does Johnsen (yes even topping star-crossed) with such a beautiful atmosphere of perseverance I was shocked as I sat listening to this. This was something so special that no generic trash band could ever come close to doing something this beautiful. then comes an epic outro and then nothing.....

In conclusion, Arcturus has delivered an amazing, atmospheric and beautiful Metal album. For any fan who enjoys Opeth, Limbonic Art, Emperor, Nokturnal Mortum and Abyssos. Enjoy

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The masters of experimental metal do it again, April 19, 2002

By 

"[e-mail]" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sham Mirrors (Audio CD)

I think that this is Arcturus' best album by far. It takes the complexity, innovative sound from La Masquerade Infernale, and extracts all teh silly goofy aspects. They've gotten back to their black metal roots a little bit, but only one song has "dirty" vocals, and they don't try to be scary. Which is always anoying in a metal band, imho. Multiple listens will bear new appreciation for each song, and it's one of the few cds that, while being a good listen, is actually NOT BORING to listen to! A must have for anyone who remotely likes swedish metal, but without all the satanic silliness.