Mad Architect - Journey To Madness

Published July 22 2013

*=Staff's pick	Echoes From Beyond Dreamworld* Universal Law Mad Architect Transitions - Part 1 Sailing Away* Floating* Strange Machine* Altered State

Genre	Metal	Snowy Shaw	Vocals
Tracks	9	Magnus Daun	Guitar
Running time	47 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Supertzar Records	Erik Ferentinos	Bass
Release	23 July 2013	Zven Lindsten	Drums
Country	Sweden	Jörgen Oscarsson	Keyboard
Producer	Mad Architect
Similar artists	---

It's definitely not easy to fixate a label to Mad Architect's music, since it's properly diverse with a mixture of progressive metal, hard rock, symphonic parts and heavy metal, even some occasional doom parts and you name it. This brainchild of Swedish guitarist Magnus Daun released a three track EP last year and with this full length release they are up and set for a proper debut album.

I wasn't rapt, nor impressed when I listened to this record for the first time. It had some good parts, yet I wasn't all convinced of its greater deeds. With a varied record like this one, it usually takes a few additional spins to let it sink deep into your core. Not entirely, but this is close to a journey to madness and after hearing it well over a dozen times, I still hesitate whether I like it or not.

A few songs definitely stand out. Dreamworld is a total killer track with its driving approach and it feels like a direct hit smashed into your chest. In fact the only song I somewhat enjoyed during my initial spin. Sailing Away shows a speedier side of the band in its verses and it also possesses a chorus similar to some of Kai Hansen's work in Gamma Ray. Floating is sort of a semi rip-off of Black Sabbath's Planet Caravan, still accurate with its liquid and dim appearance. Finally, I consider that Strange Machine is worth mentioning, with its continuous drive forward.

Snowy Show's characteristic and theatrical eerie voice sets a distinct stamp on this effort, yet he can't take this record further to higher levels. I also like many of the guitar plays, although I miss some striking brilliance to put an edge to it. With this in hand, I'll settle with 6 chalices to a fairly good debut from Mad Architect.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
6	8	7	6	6

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Tobbe