01/Manifesto
02/Discography/Soundclips
03/News
sceptic@spiralarchitect.com
Spiral Architect is about continual development, idealism,
and intensity. Spiral Architect is controlled anarchy. The aim is to make
music that challenges the listener, as well as pushes the abilities of
the musicians and man.
The constellation:
Øyvind Hægeland — Vocals
Steinar Gundersen — Lead Guitar
Andreas Jonsson — Guitar
Lars K. Norberg — Bass
Asgeir Mickelson — Drums
Spiral Architect was founded in 1993 in Oslo, Norway, when lead guitarist Steinar Gundersen (ex-King's Quest) joined the remains of Anesthesia consisting of Kaj Gornitzka (guitar), Lars K. Norberg (bass) and Asgeir Mickelson (drums). From the onset, the band set out to branch off from the music of contemporary innovative metal bands like WatchTower, Fates Warning and Psychotic Waltz. The overall idea was to once and for all integrate jazz-fusion elements with uncompromizing metal. In other words, to explore technical metal.
The first official recording showcasing Spiral Architect’s music was the songs "Fountainhead" and "Purpose" recorded for the compilation CD "A Gathering…" in 1995. These two songs were also released as an independent demo in February '96 and promoted heavily worldwide through magazines and the internet. The demo created havoc in the progressive metal undeground scene, and for years Spiral Architect was the most hyped unsigned band around. Many record labels were interested in signing the band, but Spiral Architect awaited the situation and continued to develop. To this day, the hype is up and people are still raving about Spiral Architect based on the strength of the demo from 1995.
Spiral Architect had always lacked a vocalist. The voice on the 1995 demo was therefore that of session vocalist Leif Knashaug. The inclusion of vocalist Øyvind Hægeland (ex-Manitou) in 1996 set the stage for the next era in the development of Spiral Architect. The band was now determined to leave the progressive metal label once and for all.
Now, the time had come to lay the foundation for what was to become "A Sceptic’s Universe". Spiral Architect opted for a holistic approach to the art of making a record (music, text, lyrics). The album and the philosophy behind it was to reflect the rational and sceptical world view held by the musicians involved.
In 1997, Spiral Architect signed a world wide record contract with the American based The Laser’s Edge/Sensory label. The debut album "A Sceptic’s Universe" was recorded in June 1998 at Village Productions, Texas, USA, with producer Neil Kernon (Yes, Brand X, Queensryche, Nevermore). The album marks a radical departure from the 1995 demo. The band has developed into realms of complexity and intensity that pushes the nature of technical metal further.
This statement in technical metal will be released in Japan on December 16th 1999 (with the Fates Warning cover "Prelude to Ruin" originally recorded for the FW tribute "Through Different Eyes" as a bonus track) and the rest of the world on January 18th 2000.
A new era of thinking man’s metal is about to begin…
"A
Sceptic's Universe"
Release
December
16th 1999 in Japan and Asia by Avalon/Marquee
01/"Spinning"
02/"Excessit"
03/"Moving Spirit"
(RealAudio, 1.0 MB)
04/"Occam's Razor"
05/"Insect" (RealAudio,
1.6 MB)
06/"Cloud Constructor"
07/"Conjuring Collapse"
08/"Adaptability"
09/"Fountainhead"
10/"Prelude To Ruin" (Japanese bonus track)
"A
Sceptic's Universe"
Release
January 18th 2000 in Europe and USA by Sensory/Laser's
Edge
01/"Spinning"
02/"Excessit"
03/"Moving Spirit"
(RealAudio, 1.0 MB)
04/"Occam's Razor"
05/"Insect" (RealAudio,
1.6 MB)
06/"Cloud Constructor"
07/"Conjuring Collapse"
08/"Adaptability"
09/"Fountainhead"
"Through
Different Eyes - A Tribute To Fates Warning"
01/"Prelude To Ruin"
"A Gathering"
compilation-CD/"Demo '95"
01/"Fountainhead"
(RealAudio, 1.8 MB)
02/"Purpose"
25/AUGUST/2008
- Lars and Asgeir did session jobs on Ihsahn's second solo album "angL". Check it out!
- Remember to visit the official forum for questions etc.
- Website is finally up again after a serious server crash. The band is still in its extreme slo' mo' but there are serious plans to get the next album done within the next couple of years. Only time will tell if it actually happens...
29/OCTOBER/2005
- The demo version of "Fountainhead" (recorded in '95) is now available on the compilation album "Dansbare takras og andre lekkerbiskener". E-mail Denis Decay at decay_AT_online.no (written like that to stop spam, so change that _AT_ with @) for information (this guy is serious so don't worry about sending him money.) There is some info (in Norwegian) at http://www.aurora-records.com/records/ar005.html but this is not the place to buy it.
23/OCTOBER/2005
- Asgeir is currently recording drums for Ihsahn's solo album and will start on the new Borknagar album in November. Lars is getting ready for recording bass on the next Satyricon album. Øyvind is heading into the studio soon to finish the vocals on the new Scariot album. Steinar is working on a new black metal project. But, most importantly: Spiral Architect is starting to write and record preprods in January.
Spiral Architect finally has its own forum at Ultimate Metal. Check it out at http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=375
24/JANUARY/2005
- Steinar and Lars are back from the USA/Canada-tour with Satyricon (www.satyricon.no). Øyvind has quit Arcturus (www.arcturus.no) because of moving to Stockholm (the distance will make it unable to commit to the workflow that Arcturus has lined up). Asgeir will be on tour in February with Sturmgeist (www.sturmgeist.com) and is currently recording drums and bass for the new Scariot-album (www.scariot.com). Øyvind will also be handling bass as well as vocals and some guitar solos on that album.
Yes, Spiral Architect still exists. Not much happening with the band (surprise...), due to numerous side projects... Asgeir's studio is finished and we will finally start writing some new insane metal together.
23/SEPTEMBER/2003
- Other "news" is that Asgeir has been busy during the summer recording drums for Borknagar, Vintersorg, Tor Høiland (ex-Manitou, Heartless guitarist) and Lunaris (guest on one song). Øyvind is recording bass and vocals on the new Lunaris album and Tor Høiland's solo album in between rehearsing and gigging with Arcturus. Lars and Steinar are busy headbanging for Satyricon...
...we have received lots of mail lately asking if we have broken up or are not going to release a new album. The answer to that is that we are very much alive and will definitely record a new album. However, we still haven't started rehearsing the new material so you'll probably have to wait some more years (you might say we're in no rush...). Asgeir is building a studio next year and we will be demoing everything there - maybe even use it for the album. Another reoccuring question is about tabs. We don't have anything ready for you yet but it will be published one day (remember, we're in no rush...). Please know that the tabs available on the Internet made by others have LOTS of errors.
01/MARCH/2003
- Lars K. Norberg and Steinar Gundersen are currently touring Europe with Satyricon.
- Øyvind Hægeland has joined Arcturus (replacing Garm/Trickster G/whatever...) and is currently rehearsing for upcoming shows and a new album (MCD?) .
- Asgeir Mickelson will be playing for Testament on the Bay Area Thrash Festival on March 29. and the No Mercy festivals in April in Europe. In between touring, a lot of studio sessions are lined up: Borknagar, White Willow, Vintersorg and some other projects.
...unfortunately not much happening with Spiral Architect at the moment, but the members are busy with other projects:
30/JANUARY/2002
- Look for Spiral Architect interviews at Underground Zine Scene, Edge of Time and Rock-E-Zine.
- The songwriting has been temporarily postponed and it's unlikely that the new album will be finished this year. Asgeir just finished recording session drums for Vintersorg's new album "Visions From The Spiral Generator" and Steinar and Lars is busy rehearsing with Satyricon, preparing for upcoming shows. Asgeir's other band Borknagar's new album, "Empiricism", was released in October in Europe and is out now in the US. Borknagar has been nominated for the Alarm award (please vote!) and the Norwegian 'Grammy award' "Spellemannsprisen". Watch out for Borknagar and Satyricon appearing on numerous festivals and tours in 2002!
28/MAY/2001
- Asgeir has recorded drums for Lunaris' debut album "Deus Ex Machina". Check the band out at http://www.lunarisweb.com/. On June 8th he will be heading into Fagerborg studio to record drums for the new Borknagar album.
- Look for Spiral Architect interviews at Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Edge of Time and Rock-E-Zine.
- We are busy this summer writing songs for a new album, but we can proudly announce that we will play live at Prog Power USA 2.0 November 9-10 at Earthlink Live (formerly known as Center Stage) in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Here's a video clip (3 MB, 1.16 minutes, 240x180 pixels) from the show we did at Rockefeller, Oslo, on November 13th, 2000 (Scream Magazine's anniversary party). The clip is the beginning of the show and includes a couple of new riffs before it transcends into "Excessit". You will need QuickTime in order to play it.
06/DECEMBER/2000
- Vote for Steinar at the "Progressive Metal and Shred Guitarists" poll at http://www.freevote.com/booth/progshred
- Asgeir just recorded drums for Enslavement Of Beauty's second album. Check out the band at http://www.enslavement-of-beauty.com/
- Asgeir's other band, Borknagar, has been nominated for best Norwegian metal album 2000. Please vote for Borknagar at http://www.alarmweb.org/ (click "Årets Metalalbum" in the menu on the left).
- Spiral Architect interview at http://www.digitalmetal.com/
- New shirts has been printed! Buy them from http://www.lasercd.com/
09/OCTOBER/2000
- Another show is booked, so here's the upcoming shows:
PROGPOWER:
November 11th, Sjiwa Baarlo, the Netherlands (on stage 15.50!)
SCREAM MAGAZINE'S 10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY:
November 13th, Rockefeller, Oslo, Norway
28/SEPTEMBER/2000
- We have finally put up MP3 files of "Insect" (5.6 MB) and "Moving Spirit" (3.6 MB). Feel free to download and listen for private pleasure, but remember that the files are protected by copyright law. Please respect the integrity of these files.
- Many people are asking about the next album. We recently started to rehearse new material and we are currently working on 5 new songs.
- We won the ProgPower festival's Scandinavian contest. Thanks to everyone who voted for us! This means Spiral Architect will play in Sjiwa Baarlo, the Netherlands on Saturday 11th in November together with Opeth, Everon, Twilight, After Forever, Manticora and Arabesque. Please check http://www.progpower.com for details.
19/AUGUST/2000
- The ProgPower festival in the Netherlands are running a contest between 10 bands. The winner gets to play, so if you want to see Spiral Architect live in November you know what to do here: http://www.progpower.com/pp2000/scandinavia.htm
03/JUNE/2000
- "Conjuring Collapse" appears on the cover CD of the May issue of French metal magazine Hard'n Heavy.
- Andreas became a father on May 29th! Andreas' and Marija's daughter will be named Julia Andrea and she was 50 cm long and 3988 grams when she was born.
- T-shirts and long-sleeves are now available! They look like this and the front design is like this. Buy them directly from Sensory/Laser's Edge.
08/MAY/2000
- Fixed the sound on the video clip of "Spinning".
03/MAY/2000
- Here's a video clip from the show
we did at Betong, Oslo, on December 11th, 1999 (Scream Magazine party).
We had three cameras recording that night which were supposed to be edited
together. Unfortunately two of the films were lost in the mail, so this
clip contains only drums. On top of that, the sound is distorted. Anyways
- the clip is of "Spinning",
14 MB, 3.25 minutes and 240x180 pixels. You will need QuickTime to play
it.
26/APRIL/2000
- A lot of people have been asking for T-shirts, so two motives have been
designed. Please check back for info about how to order T-shirts and long-sleeves
- Øyvind has done a guest appearance on the new Mayhem album "Grand Declaration Of War". It's a great album so check it out!
- Asgeir is working on drums for the song "Words For Nerds" to appear on the next Spastic Ink album "Ink Compatible"
- Borknagar, in which Asgeir plays the drums, released the album "Quintessence" in Europe on April 17th. Look for festival dates on their website.
- Steinar is on a
European tour with Satyricon, supporting Pantera. You can bug Steinar
at these places:
4/26, 7.30, Civic, Wolverhampton ENG
4/27, 7.30, Apollo, Manchester ENG
4/28, 7.30, Barrowlands, Glasgow SCO
4/30, 7.30, Academy, Brixton ENG
5/01, 7.00, Ancienne Belgique, Brussels BEL
5/03, 7.00, Filaporum, Milan ITA
5/04, 7.00, BPA Palas, Pesaro ITA
5/05, 7.30, Palladium, Geneva SWI
5/06, 8.00, Colosseum, Munich GER
5/08, 8.00, Slovan Kodeldevo, Llublijana SLO
5/10, 8.00, Longhorn, Stuttgart GER
5/12, 8.30, Zeleste, Barcelona SPA
5/13, 8.30, Polideportivo Andeta, San Sebastien SPA
5/15, 8.00, Transbordeur, Lyon FRA
5/16, 7.45, Strasbourg, FRA
5/18, 7.00, Zenith, Paris FRA
23/FEBRUARY/2000
- The homepage is back from a two months 'vacation'... Look for an update
very soon!
- The Japanese release of "A Sceptic's Universe" was delayed till January 19th.
- The distributors all over the world is getting "A Sceptic's Universe". If you can't find the album in your local music stores, please ask them to order it. You can also order the CD directly from the label at http://www.lasercd.com/. We promise they're cheap, relieable and fast!
- "A Sceptic's Universe" is getting rave reviews. Look for interviews and reviews in the upcoming issues of Metal Maniacs, Scream Magazine, Feast Or Famine and Edge Of time.
- Visit the technical metal webboard PM: Exact Science at http://www.mindcage.com/wwwboard7/wwwboard7.html
23/NOVEMBER/1999
- Guitarist Andreas Jonsson has recently been added to the Spiral Architect
line-up. He replaces Kaj Gornitzka who left the band during the recording
of "A Sceptic's Universe"
- Guitarist Steinar Gundersen is now also part of the live line-up for the Norwegian black metal band Satyricon. They will embark on a European tour starting on January 7th. See tour dates on www.moonfog.no
- Drummer Asgeir Mickelson is now also an official member of the Norwegian epic/black metal band Borknagar. They are entering Abyss studio with producer Peter Tägtgren on January 5th. The album will be followed by heavy touring as soon as the album is released (probably April 2000) by Century Media.
- Spiral Architect will play at the Scream Magazine party at Betong, Oslo, on December 11th (going on stage approx. 20.15). As of now, there are no other gigs planned before the release-party (sometime in February or March).
- The Fates Warning tribute CD "Through Different Eyes" has finally been released. Order the CD at http://www.planetsarcasm.com/fw-order.htm
- Visit the technical metal webboard OmegaDelta at http://www.scream.no/coda/wwwboard/index.html