Arcturus "The Sham Mirrors"

The Sham Mirrors is the third studio album by Norwegian avant-garde metal band Arcturus. It was released on April 9, 2002.

The Sham Mirrors is a departure from the band's previous albums, featuring a much more modern, space-influenced sound, as opposed to the layered, classical melodies of 1997's La Masquerade Infernale. The album contains elements of trip hop, ambient music and electronica in addition to the band's usual progressive and black metal sound. Lyrically, the album deals with abstract science fiction-themed subjects, a stark contrast to the theatrical and Satanic lyrics of the band's earlier work. The album cover depicts a model drawing of the upper part of the Apollo spaceship.

This is the last album to feature Kristoffer Rygg on vocals.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Kristoffer Rygg, except tracks 4 and 6, written by Jørn H. Sværen; all music is composed by Steinar Sverd Johnsen.

1. "Kinetic" 5:25
2. "Nightmare Heaven" 6:05
3. "Ad Absurdum" 6:48
4. "Collapse Generation" 4:13
5. "Star-Crossed" 5:01
6. "Radical Cut" 5:08
7. "For To End Yet Again" 10:33

Total length: 43:13

The title for track 7 is lifted from Samuel Beckett.

Sleeve quotes from the pre-surrealist play 'Ubu the King' by Alfred Jarry.

Recording information:

Recorded in various spaces, times and formats from 2000 to 2002.

Mixed by Tore Ylwizaker at Ambassaden, Jan. 2002.

Mastered at Strype Audio.