Estradasphere's New CD "Palace of Mirrors" Mirrors Perfection

Few are the contemporary albums that immediately bring to mind words like imaginative journey or superb composition.

Estradasphere's latest release, "Palace of Mirrors", is a soundtrack to a nonexistent movie. Those who know the history of the fantastic global genre, however, know that a great soundtrack doesn't need visual stimulation.

"Palace of Mirrors" is what happens when you listen to Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota while mastering instruments like the accordion, drums, guitar, shamisen, upright bass and violin, while also wanting to push your instruments to their limits, thus simultaneously pushing the heavy metal envelope.

What's a Japanese shamisen? Don't worry about it; just know that band member Kevin Kmetz won 2nd Place at the annual National Tsugaru Shamisen Tournament. That means he's really good.

"Palace of Mirrors" is sometimes metal, sometimes jazz, usually indescribable and always pushing the boundaries of your expectations. The transitions between styles within the tracks are part of the amazing feat of the album.

You'll be immediately sucked into the magic by the first two tracks, "Title" and "Palace of Mirrors". The upbeat violin intertwines with intense ballroom dance music (never thought I'd put those four words together), occasionally dipping into a mysterious gypsy style for a few seconds and back again.

"A Corporate Merger" gets a little funkier, a little more traditional in the pattern of the sounds, and then the shamisen breaks the habit. Before long the guitar, violin and drums are rocking a storm that would give the Furies pause.

"The Terrible Beautypower of Meow" starts with a longing violin piece and melts into a sound I can only describe as a mixture of spaghetti Western and surf music.

"Colossal Risk" will keep you moving through a spectrum of instruments taking the reins in a cautiously upbeat way. Nothing very fast, or very slow, just an interesting mix begging to be called psychedelic spy music. I guess psychedelic spying would be a colossal risk.

"The Unfolding/Pause on the Threshold" is a darker song with drawn-out drums and ambience that shifts to a somber, but also disorienting, guitar and violin ending.

"Smuggled Mutation" is just crazy fun. Pay special attention to the drums, because not many people in the world can sound like that.

"Six Hands" would be perfect for your gypsy montage.

"The Debutante" reminds us that brass isn't to be forgotten. Jazz can progress, Estradasphere can show us the way.

"Flower Garden of an Evil Man" begins evil indeed. The low-pitch background noise is soon overtaken by an even eviler guitar as the rest of the band puts on their Evil Hats too. Warning: If you suffer from post-traumatic-Mario-Bros.-castle-music syndrome (PTMBCMS), do not attempt this track.

"Those Who Know…" are here to tell you that the shamisen is underappreciated, but no longer! The spaghetti Western influence is unapologetic with the string instruments, but that's not a bad thing. Whereas most directors would have just bought the rights to a Morricone piece for this scene in their nonexistent movie, Estradasphere went the extra mile and added their own beautiful twist to the style.

"Palace of Mirrors Reprise" is, as the title implies, somewhat of a comedown. The sounds are just as precise and thoughtful as the rest of the album, but we've reached the bass-laden denouement, or have we?

"The Return" won't let you go that easily. Everyone is out in peek heavy metal form. Six minutes of musical destruction await all as they exit the Palace of Mirrors.

The only bad part about this album is…is…well, I tried.

What could be better than this album? This album live: http://www.estradasphere.com will have the tour dates you seek. Reliable sources tell of Nino Rota tracks having been covered, surprise.