Complex, Challenging Progressive Statement
Joel Israel | Cedar City, UT United States | 01/23/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Twisted Into Form is a band composed of former members of Spiral Architect, a band who is widely regarded as one of the most technical and progressive metal bands ever-despite only releasing one album-and the drummer of art-metal band Extol. Quite a powerful combination, and one of the most interesting, original, and amazing albums I've ever heard.
Very cutting-edge material here; I would describe it as an intelligent, boundary-pushing amalgamation of post-rock ambience, hardcore modern fusion, and experimental rock and metal. Throwing convention aside, this album is really best listened to from start to finish. Like some bizarre, dreamlike journey into an altered state of being, the listener is buffeted by odd time changes, bubbling, convoluted bass lines, and textural, angular and fluid guitar riffs and rhythms that seem to constantly morph into the next. It's unlike anything your will have ever heard. The vocals are quite good, but similiarly off-kilter in delivery and melody...lyrically abstract and ambiguous and musically fascinating....highly recommended to those who enjoy being challenged musically or enjoy incredible musicianship. It requires several listens to uncover some of the facets of the music and lyrics hidden underneath all of the baroque complexity. Incredible, and completely original."
Spiral Architect meets Extol... sort of.
Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 04/15/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Twisted Into Form's debut album was years in the making, and since there was no news from the Spiral Architect camp, every fan of them had their attention turned to former Spiral guitarist Kaj Gornitzka's new band. Gornitzka teamed up with Extol drummer David Husvik, with whom he wrote pretty much all of the album, including lyrics and vocal melodies before setting out to seek a proper label that would do their work justice. Enter Ken Golden's Sensory Records and ever since the early days of 2004 there was word that the album was getting recorded. However, the process took longer than one could handle, due to various reasons, one of which is Gornitzka's move to Portugal and the rest of the band being in their homeland Norway. So over a period of two years, they finally recorded their songs and got Neil Kernon to mix the tapes. Sonically, as expected, the album is a monster.
Considering Kaj Gornitzka's six-year stint with Spiral Architect, or even longer when we take into account the other bands he and Lars played together, it is impossible not to draw comparisons between Twisted Into Form and Spiral Architect. Add to this the inclusion of original Spiral Architect session vocalist Leif Knashaug and you have a pretty similar band. The music is busy, filled with a good amount of technical guitar wizardy, corrosive bass from former Lunaris member Erik Aadland, and off-the-wall drum attacks courtesy of David Husvik. The general vibe and overall instrumentation is quite alike Spiral Architect and also recalls other greats such as Arch-era Fates Warning, earlier Sieges Even, and Psychotic Waltz. Twisted Into Form is a band that wears their influences on their sleeves; Knashaug's delivery and the chord progressions on "Instinct Solitaire" recall Fates Warning's Awaken the Guardian, where they employ nice dual lead parts and epic guitar riffery. The gloom-filled, apocalyptic instrumental "Tear" is in the same mould as Black Sabbath's "E150", built around a profound bass and guitar dissonance. Likewise, Knashaug opts for a rather theatrical vocal style on the otherwise technical "Manumit", except that he is also unafraid to infuse some brutal death growls into the mix.
That said, Twisted Into Form also exerts a certain unique vibe that ventures into deeply atmospheric parts that see the band utilising stretched-out acoustic passages and doomy soundscapes amongst a wide array of non-metal elements. "Erased" is textured with an exquisite jazz feel and intentionally unfitting operatic vocals atop nicely played flamenco guitars and blues-inflected harmonies. Aadland's bass sounds more like Jaco Pastorius than a metal guy, but the amalgamation is perfect. The Middle Eastern elements displayed on "The Thin Layers of Lust and Love" reveal the band's interest in longer instrumental passages and the addition of sitar-like instruments with lots of jazz warmth and complex unison leads. The cascading bass guitar on this song is awe-inspiring. "Coda" also sees the vocalist and Garnitzka joining forces to create volcanic explosions that follow tension-raising acoustic parts. Worthy of mention is also "The Flutter Kings", boasting a somewhat industrial drum and bass battery before bleeding into the eastern tones of "Torrents".
Then Comes Affliction to Awaken the Dreamer is a quote from the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), and while it may seem pretentious, it's an album that does a lot to belie its roots. This is for those who like super technical music infused with more moody arrangements and lyrics that question existence and ooze despair. That said, it comes no where near the brilliance of A Sceptic's Universe, but then what does?"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1