The Fiction Maze
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Fiction Maze
| type = studio
| artist = Persuader
| cover = Persuader The Fiction Maze.jpg
| released = 25 December 2013 (JP)
17 January 2014 (EU)
21 January 2014 (US)
| recorded = Garageland Studios, Umeå
(rhythm guitars, mixing)[http://www.metal-sound.net/?page_id=347 "Persuader "One Lifetime""]. Metal Sound. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Power metal
| length = 52:43
| label = Inner Wound Recordings
| producer =
| prev_title = When Eden Burns
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Necromancy
| next_year = 2020
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Metal Temple
| rev1Score = {{Rating|8|10}}[http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/p_2/persuader-the-fiction.htm "Persuader – The Fiction Maze"]. Metal Temple. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
| rev2 = The Monolith
| rev2Score = {{Rating|9|10}}[http://www.themonolith.com/music/review-persuader-fiction-maze "REVIEW: PERSUADER – THE FICTION MAZE | The Monolith"]. The Monolith. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
| rev3 = Sputnikmusic
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}[https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/61230/Persuader-The-Fiction-Maze "Persuader – The Fiction Maze (album review ) | Sputnikmusic"]. Sputnikmusic. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
| rev4 = Sound Scape
| rev4Score = {{Rating|10|10}}[http://www.soundscapemagazine.com/persuaderthefictionmaze "Persuader – The Fiction Maze Review | Soundscape Magazine"]. Sound Scape. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
| rev5 = Hollywood Metal
| rev5Score = {{Rating|8|10}}[http://hollywoodmetal.com/2014/01/27/album-review-persuader-fiction-maze "Album Review: Persuader – The Fiction Maze | Hollywood MetalHollywood Metal"]. Hollywood Metal. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
| rev6 = Hard Rock Heaven
| rev6Score = {{Rating|8|10}}[http://hardrockhaven.net/online/2014/01/persuader-the-fiction-maze-cd-review/ "Persuader | The Fiction Maze CD Review – hardrockhaven.net"]. Hard Rock Heaven. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
| rev7 = Powermetal.de
| rev7Score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}[http://powermetal.de/review/review-Persuader/The_Fiction_Maze,23559,23452.html "Persuader | The Fiction Maze Review – powermetal.de"]. Powermetal.de. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
}}
The Fiction Maze is the fourth studio album by Swedish power metal band Persuader.[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/persuader-to-release-the-fiction-maze-in-january/ "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."[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/persuader-signs-with-inner-wound-recordings/ "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.[http://www.vk.se/578724/laget "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,[http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=33589 "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,[https://web.archive.org/web/20111115193146/http://persuader.nu/ "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:
{{Quote|The maze idea can be applied to most of the lyrics, but it's not necessary a concept album. The idea is that finding the real truth in things, whether it's in religion, the news on TV or your own mindset can be like finding your way through a labyrinth.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140306122528/http://highwiredaze.com/wordpress/persuaderint1 "Persuader: Navigating The Fiction Maze"]. HighWire Daze. 1-9-2014. Retrieved 1-11-2014.
}}
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."[https://web.archive.org/web/20170103093907/http://persuaderstudio.blogspot.com/2009/09/ok-so-story-begins.html "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.[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151745485529046&id=50270729045 "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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20131130174730/http://persuaderstudio.blogspot.com/2010/05/behemoth-clip.html "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."[https://web.archive.org/web/20131130174557/http://persuaderstudio.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-song.html "New Song"]. Persuader Studio Diary. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
Track listing
{{track listing
| title1 = One Lifetime
| length1 = 4:26
| title2 = War
| length2 = 4:24
| title3 = The Fiction Maze
| length3 = 5:08
| title4 = Deep in the Dark
| length4 = 5:31
| title5 = InSect
| length5 = 4:05
| title6 = Son of Sodom
| length6 = 5:48
| title7 = Sent to the Grave
| length7 = 4:58
| title8 = Heathen
| length8 = 6:15
| title9 = Dagon Rising
| length9 = 1:27
| title10 = Worlds Collide
| length10 = 5:30
| title11 = Falling Faster
| length11 = 5:11
| total_length =
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus track
| title12 = Aftermath
| length12 = 4:04
}}
Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Persuader
- Jens Carlsson – vocals
- Emil Norberg – lead guitar
- Daniel Sundbom – rhythm guitar
- Fredrik Hedström – bass
- Efraim Juntunen – drums
{{col-2}}
;Production
- Ronnie Björnström – mixing and mastering
- Felipe Machado Franco – artwork
{{col-end}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
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