Sometimes, in the genre-obsessed world of today’s metal media, there comes a band, which smashes all the comfy, pre-defined labels given to them. Arcturus is one such entity, with the release of the Norwegian super-group’s third album, truly redefining the way one must look at metal and music as a whole. Gone are the Black Metal inspired elements, seen on ‘Aspera Hiems Sinfonia’, and the dark feeling of ‘La Masquerade Infernale’, instead replaced by an eclectic mix of musical influences, ranging from industrial and folk, to classic rock, darkwave and of course a highly progressive form of metal.

Opener ‘Kinetic’, sets the tone for the rest of the album, featuring a much more traditionally metal based composition then some of the operatic, carnival-esque works seen on previous albums such as ‘La Masquerade…’, its punchy central riff leading into some suitably disturbing electronic sounds, before soaring into an ambient and smoothly sung vocal refrain. The band’s taste for the bizarre is showcased over the next two tracks, with ‘Nightmare Heaven’ being seemingly split between its electronic elements and metal pedigree, and ‘Ad Absurdum’ having a carnival –esque feel not dissimilar to some of the band’s earlier work on ‘La Masquerade Infernale’.

However it would be wrong to believe that the lunatics have taken over the asylum, on this album. Far from being simply being an attempt to fuse various musical influences, with a more traditional metal sound, Arcturus have managed to create something truly unique, yet at the same time still intrinsically metal in sound. Both ‘Collapsed Generation’ and ‘Radical Cut’, the later showcasing some rather spectacular drumming from Norway’s resident blast machine, Hellhammer. However, the rather epic, film score interlude on ‘Collapsed Generation’, combined with further electronic elements are reminders of the rather more progressive and experimental side of the band.

The final track of the album, ‘For To End Yet Again’ surely deserves special credit. Were there to be a song that could sum up everything that Arcturus are about, this would be it. Winding its way through various passages, the song’s undeniable metal inspired heaviness, is again punctuated by another more experimental co-operation between Skoll and Sverd, not only prolonging the theme showcased throughout the album, but perfecting it.

‘The Sham Mirrors’ is not an easily accessible album, but is one that requires a certain degree of open mindedness and a willingness to explore metal as more then a predefined idea. What Arcturus have managed to create, is an album that not only represents a vision of somewhat unconventional genius, but one that is backed by the musical expertise to carry it off, and which ultimately carries metal forward in entirely new directions.

Standout Tracks:  Collapsed Generation, Radical Cut, For To End Yet Again.

Overall Score:   9 /10