Secret Chiefs 3 - Book of Horizons
Web of Mimicry - WoM014 - June 2004
By Paddy Walsh
This is the fourth release from Secret Chiefs 3, but you'd be forgiven for having never heard of them. The brainchild of guitarist Trey Spruance (of Mr. Bungle and briefly Faith No More fame), Secret Chiefs 3 is very much a labour of love for Spruance, a realisation of the man's vast creative potential - both as a composer and a guitarist. It is one of the most challenging yet rewarding albums I have heard in years.
Anyone who has listened to Mr. Bungle will know that Spruance has never been a man to do things conventionally, and Book of Horizons is no exception. it mixes a vast array of musical styles, moods and textures, from traditional hindu/middle-eastern pieces to brutal death metal right through to soaring and beautiful pieces that sound like they could be film scores by Ennio Morricone. If this is confusing you, then it gets worse; Spruance, in order to carry through with all his ideas, saw fit to record using 6 different bands, each playing in it's own style and with a different lineup. So for instance, the two death metal tracks are played by the band 'Holy Vehm' and feature musicians including John Merriman (Cephalic Carnage). The other 'bands' on this album are 'Forms, 'Ishraqiyun', 'Traditionalists', 'The Electromagnetic Azoth', and 'UR'. Confused yet?
But don't be put off by the bewildering structure of this album, as it truly is a gem. Each track is wildly different, some beautiful, some monstrous, but all brilliant. There isn't one dud here. Spruance's attempt at death metal on 'Hypostasis of the Archons' is simply genius; a vicious and jaw dropping mix of stunning drums, twisting, technical riffs and simply inhuman vocals. Other tracks have could honestly feature on a film, they sound so good. Indeed 'Book T: Exodus' was originally written by Ernest Gold. But check out album closer 'Welcom to the Theatron Animatronique', which sounds like it was lifted from some kind Tim Burton-esque world of comedic-horror. Stunning.
So buy this album. You might find it difficult to locate. But buy it. If you don't, you're missing out on what is quite possibly the best album of 2004.
9.5/10
Web of Mimicry Official Website
Web of Mimicry - WoM014 - June 2004
By Paddy Walsh
This is the fourth release from Secret Chiefs 3, but you'd be forgiven for having never heard of them. The brainchild of guitarist Trey Spruance (of Mr. Bungle and briefly Faith No More fame), Secret Chiefs 3 is very much a labour of love for Spruance, a realisation of the man's vast creative potential - both as a composer and a guitarist. It is one of the most challenging yet rewarding albums I have heard in years.
Anyone who has listened to Mr. Bungle will know that Spruance has never been a man to do things conventionally, and Book of Horizons is no exception. it mixes a vast array of musical styles, moods and textures, from traditional hindu/middle-eastern pieces to brutal death metal right through to soaring and beautiful pieces that sound like they could be film scores by Ennio Morricone. If this is confusing you, then it gets worse; Spruance, in order to carry through with all his ideas, saw fit to record using 6 different bands, each playing in it's own style and with a different lineup. So for instance, the two death metal tracks are played by the band 'Holy Vehm' and feature musicians including John Merriman (Cephalic Carnage). The other 'bands' on this album are 'Forms, 'Ishraqiyun', 'Traditionalists', 'The Electromagnetic Azoth', and 'UR'. Confused yet?
But don't be put off by the bewildering structure of this album, as it truly is a gem. Each track is wildly different, some beautiful, some monstrous, but all brilliant. There isn't one dud here. Spruance's attempt at death metal on 'Hypostasis of the Archons' is simply genius; a vicious and jaw dropping mix of stunning drums, twisting, technical riffs and simply inhuman vocals. Other tracks have could honestly feature on a film, they sound so good. Indeed 'Book T: Exodus' was originally written by Ernest Gold. But check out album closer 'Welcom to the Theatron Animatronique', which sounds like it was lifted from some kind Tim Burton-esque world of comedic-horror. Stunning.
So buy this album. You might find it difficult to locate. But buy it. If you don't, you're missing out on what is quite possibly the best album of 2004.
9.5/10
Web of Mimicry Official Website
