Twisted Into Form
Then Comes Affliction To Awaken The Dreamer

Traversing the extreme solutions of modern prog metal brings Twisted into form to my mind. A sister band to the mathematical prog of Spiral Architect, it boasts in its ranks some of the members of this extreme prog band: Leif Knashaug and Kaj Gornitzka, respectively singer and guitarist of Spiral.

This album has a long and complex gestation, complexity which is found in the 10 songs. "Then Comes Affliction To Awaken The Dreamer" is, however, a slightly distant album from the excessive algebra of the compositions of "A Sceptic Universe". Surely there is a truly remarkable work of study and discipline, but there is careful work trying to give space to melody and more harmonious and airy solutions.

We are faced with the strangest prog style ever heard: very complex and contrived rhythms, vocal lines completely detached from the rest of the instrumental section, technical but short and sharp solos, and songs that rarely exceed 6 minutes in length. Before dwelling on the analysis of the songs, it’s important to underline the basic concept: the entire work and lyrics are based on the works of the philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. Many of the themes addressed are those dear to the solitary Danish thinker, considered the father of existentialism.

As if in reflection, here the dance opens with an intricate electric guitar intro. It starts with “Enter Nothingness”. An intellectual track, tough even to listen to. The quality of the songs begins to burst forth with the following “Instinct Solitarie”. What I immediately feel like saying is that every single note, every passage is spot on and it’s not difficult to say that it is also permeated with a certain amount of emotion: this album perfectly reflects existential themes, and the complexity of the songs tends to induce reflection, but above all tends to estrange the listener. “Torrents”, “The Thin Layers of Lust & Love” demonstrate this: the first much more rhythmic, the second enriched by an intricate acoustic guitar arpeggio and oriental atmospheres almost recalling Buddhist visions and pushing towards tranquility. “Tear” is an instrumental, brief and simple, that functions as a link for “Manumit” and for the extreme rhythm of “The Flutter King”. Only 4 minutes and one enters the depressive “Erased” to move on to the frenetic “House of Nadir”. Finally, there is the schizophrenia of “Coda”: a track that represents madness and total surrender to frenzy.

Finished the album, my only impressions lead to bewilderment: in the extreme prog of this group, unexpected messages and voices are found. Regardless of the extreme complexity of the musical proposal, remaining impassive and not being carried away by this whirlwind of emotions and reflections would truly be a shame. In the countertimes, in the continuous and incredible changes of tempo, in only 44 minutes of algebraic and geometric music, time stops leaving space for pure rationality.