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 skeptical 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.).
The constellation:
Øyvind Hægeland — Lead & backing vocals, keyboards
Steinar Gundersen — Lead guitar
Andreas Jonsson — Rhythm guitar
Lars K. Norberg — Bass and sampling/programming
Asgeir Mickelson — Drums
Former members:
Kaj Gornitzka — Rhythm guitar and backing vocals
Purpose
Spiral Architect Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No worse a kind than animal man
For who better snake than serpent itself?
(Who knows of nothing else)
Reveal to me now all that is real
I will deny, I will deny all
This truth may be yours
Not for the ones who love the lies, the severed ties
Mine’s a critical condition
Lost hopes are carried away
as though they never did stay
Oh please, is there nothing, is there nothing left for those who yearn?
Nothing to ease this pain, I can’t release this shame
It’s all the same – I am still here
Spoken for, occupied, not to be had
I will deny, I will deny all
This truth may be yours
I refuse it as mine
(I wait on)
Fall from earth and land
Through these hands
Tracing time within this time within this time
(I wait on)
Fall from earth and land
Through these hands
Tracing time within this time within this time
(I wait on)
Nothing to ease this pain, I can’t release this shame
(I wait on)
This truth may be yours, I refuse it as mine
(I wait on)
I will deny, I will deny all
(I wait on)
Not for the ones who love the lies, the severed ties
The lyrics of Spiral Architect's song "Purpose" may seem cryptic at first, but upon closer examination, they tell a story of self-discovery, denial, and a yearning for something more. The first stanza speaks to the idea that humans are no better than animals and in some ways, worse, as we have the ability to deceive and manipulate. The singer then declares that they will deny any truth revealed to them, refusing to accept it as their own. This refusal may stem from a fear of change or a lack of understanding, leading to a critical condition where the singer is lost and in pain, unable to let go of their shame.
The second stanza continues the theme of denial and speaks to the idea that the singer is spoken for, occupied, and not to be had. This reinforces the idea that they are resistant to change and unwilling to let go of their current state. The repetition of the line, "I will deny, I will deny all" reinforces this theme even further. The chorus serves as a plea for something more, for those who yearn for something beyond the lies and severed ties of everyday life.
The final stanza repeats the opening line, "I wait on," followed by the repetition of the lines from the chorus. This repetition reinforces the idea of waiting for something more, something greater than the pain and shame the singer currently feels. The final line, "not for the ones who love the lies, the severed ties," serves as a reminder that there are others out there who feel as the singer does, seeking something more to fulfill their purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
So be what you will, know what you are
You may choose to be whoever you want to be, but it's important to understand your true self.
No worse a kind than animal man
Human beings are no different from animals in terms of nature.
For who better snake than serpent itself? (Who knows of nothing else)
Who can understand a snake better than another serpent? (They only know their own nature.)
Reveal to me now all that is real
Show me the truth and nothing but the truth.
I will deny, I will deny all
Even if the truth is revealed to me, I will choose to reject it.
This truth may be yours
The truth might belong to someone else.
I refuse it as mine
But I refuse to accept it as my own truth.
Not for the ones who love the lies, the severed ties
This is not for those who prefer to keep living in a state of lies and broken relationships.
Mine’s a critical condition
My situation is severe and complicated.
Lost hopes are carried away as though they never did stay
My hopes are lost and forgotten, as if they never existed in the first place.
Oh please, is there nothing, is there nothing left for those who yearn?
Is there no hope left for those who continue to long for something better?
Nothing to ease this pain, I can’t release this shame
There is nothing that can make this pain go away, and I cannot shake off my sense of guilt.
It’s all the same – I am still here
Regardless of everything that has happened, I am still stuck in the same predicament.
Spoken for, occupied, not to be had
I am already taken, unavailable, and not to be claimed by anyone else.
(I wait on) Fall from earth and land, through these hands, Tracing time within this time within this time
I am waiting to fall from this world, to perish and to experience the passage of time.
(I wait on) Nothing to ease this pain, I can’t release this shame
I am waiting, even though there is nothing that can ease this pain and release me from my guilt.
(I wait on) This truth may be yours, I refuse it as mine
I am waiting, even though the truth might belong to someone else, and I am choosing not to accept it.
(I wait on) I will deny, I will deny all
I am waiting, even though I will continue to reject the truth if and when it reveals itself.
(I wait on) Not for the ones who love the lies, the severed ties
This waiting is not for those who prefer to keep living in a state of lies and broken relationships.
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.