The Fiction Maze is the fourth studio album by Swedish power metal band Persuader."Persuader To Release 'The Fiction Maze' In January". Blabbermouth.net. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013. The band describes the album as "the perfect mix of everything we've done so far, expanded on the Persuader sound while keeping the core that is the band" and "a beast of an album, the true pinnacle of our career so far.""Persuader Signs With Inner Wound Recordings". Blabbermouth.net. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013. In an interview with Swedish newspaper Västerbottens-Kuriren, Emil noted that the album is "a little more aggressive and a little heavier" than their previous work."Emil Norberg Interview". Västerbottens-Kuriren. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2013. The album is Persuader's first release in seven years.
On 11 September 2013, Persuader announced they had signed with Inner Wound Recordings.
Background The album experienced multiple delays in its recording and anticipated release date. The band had been working on the album since at least May 2008,"Persuader To Enter Studio In May". Metalunderground.com. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2013. and cites personal lives and work with Savage Circus and other projects,"Persuader Homepage, News from 09-09-11". Retrieved 23 November 2013. as factors in the repeated delays.
In an interview with HighWire Daze, Efraim explains the theme behind the album:
Recording According to Persuader's studio blog, the album has been recorded in multiple locations, one of which was described as "an old haunted house just by the shore of the mighty Kvarken... It's cold, dark and pretty filthy so the ambience for the new album is set.""Ok, so the story begins...". Persuader Studio Diary. 18 Sep 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
On the band's previous two albums, Piet Sielck of Iron Savior contributed backing vocals. For this album however, the band decided to have Emil and Efraim do the backing vocals. The result, according to the band, is a rawer sound compared to their previous two records."Persuader Album Update". Facebook. 23 Feb 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2014. Previews were released on the band's studio diary. "Son of Sodom's" working title was "Behemoth", and is a heavier track."Behemoth – Clip". Persuader Studio Diary. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013. "Deep In the Dark" shows "a bit softer and atmospheric side of Persuader.""New Song". Persuader Studio Diary. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
Track listing
Personnel
Persuader Jens Carlsson – vocals Emil Norberg – lead guitar Daniel Sundbom – rhythm guitar Fredrik Hedström – bass Efraim Juntunen – drums
Production Ronnie Björnström – mixing and mastering Felipe Machado Franco – artwork
References