Review by Ben for Pestilence - Spheres (1993)

I'm going to say it right here! This is Pestilence's best album! No, I'm not suggesting that their previous albums weren’t great, because they absolutely were to varying degrees. But Spheres is an amazing achievement both technically and musically and I simply cannot understand why there are so many metal listeners out there (the band included) that consider it to be a failure. There is no other album that sounds like this one, and in a genre filled with bands that sound almost identical, that should not be ignored. It's utterly otherworldly in atmosphere, compellingly original, technically superb and above all, damn entertaining!

I guess I find it difficult to read some of the reviews on here that label this album things like "pretty much a stinker" and "Cynic-lite". But what I find more difficult is the way the band themselves (now that they have reformed) calling this release a failed experiment and promising not to put any of that overly technical, jazzy, electronic shite in the new release. They were clearly passionate about this stuff at the time and turning their backs on the albums fans 15 years later is insulting.

OK, so I've got all that out. I feel better now! Honestly, if you do enjoy progressive death metal such as Atheist and Cynic, then Spheres should be at the very top of your listening list. The riffs are insane, the solos are exquisite, the vocals are first rate, the lyrics are intelligent and thought provoking, the drumming is brilliant, and the bass work is utterly god like. Tracks like Mind Reflections, The Level of Perception, the beautiful Personal Energy and Demise of Time are jaw dropping, but to be honest, the whole 33 minutes is magical indeed. Don't be fooled by the rating, Spheres is massively underrated and one of my very favourite albums!