Spiral Key: An Error of Judgement

In the many variations of symphonic metal hitting the marketplace there was bound to be a group seeking to take a heavy dark sound and bring it to the next level. The opening track "Reason Revolution" launches a mixture of Black Sabbath a 'la Candlemass and symphonic mega-moodiness that results in an original angle of progressive metal drama.

With "Freeze Time" the group is eager to be put all their talents and thoughts through a sonic soup of melodic keyboards, power metal riffs, fantastic drums (Dream Theater-quality) and still come out the other side of symphonic metal with an inspired story to tell. This is the type of song that makes people take notice.

"Hollywood Dreams" is their keynote track linked to a video. It is the most radio friendly of the album but not the most interesting, but such is the marketing of music these days. The next track "Possessive" is a nine-minute mini-epic is that so extraordinarily involved I wished it went on for another ten minutes. In fact, this song might be considered a classic a decade from now when we reexamine the epoch of symphonic metal.

The groovy dark-edge of "West Facing" is but another revelation of a band that is musically capable of shedding new skin and sounding fresh and furious with nearly every foot forward. "Sanctimonious" is a speed metal tour de force of Spiral Key laying out collective creative energy to enormous cinematic effect and even getting out a relevant social message. Spiral Key is proving to be a group exploring the outskirts of a genre but not being defined by its limitations. It has all the makings of a major player truly ready for a spectacular concept album on the horizon. I will be watching their next move. You should too.

Track List
1. Reason Revolution, 3:37
2. Dark Path, 6:06
3. Freeze Time, 5:39
4. Hollywood Dreams, 5:36
5. Possessive, 9:12
6. West Facing, 5:48
7. Sanctimonious, 5:03
8. Dead End 5:40"

Added: December 14th 2017
Reviewer: Mark Antony Rossi
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2672
Language: english

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