The American Spirit Web was formed in 1998 by guitarist Paul Speredes after he left the band Syris and hooked up with singer Scott Huffman. Spirit Web consists of four metal veterans coming from bands like Slauter Xtroyes, Winterkill and Stygian among others. This self-titled album was formerly released on the bands own Stentorian Records label and got high acclaim in the media, especially in Germany. Now, a few years later, Mausoleum re-releases the album featuring two new songs, “Dream Never Ending” and “Blind Faith” as well as featuring the new drummer, Chuck White, on these last two songs.

The album opens with the technical “Ghostly Chill” and this song, just like the rest of the album, reminds strongly of bands like Fates Warning, Queensr˙che, Helstar and maybe even Psychotic Waltz. Don’t get me wrong. Not the music Fates Warning and Queensr˙che play these days but the music they used to play in the eighties; during the period of Fates Warning’s Awaken The Guardian or Queensr˙che’s Queen Of The Reich. The music is best described as progressive and melodic thrash metal and is overall of a very high level. The songs are diverse and although Spirit Web certainly reminds of the aforementioned bands, they have nevertheless managed to retain their own sound and there are enough modern elements to sound refreshing.

That this band is being labeled as power metal simply baffles me as well as it annoys me. Spirit Web features excellent compositions, which are neither straightforward nor repetitive, and songs like “Osiris By The Judge”, “Ghostly Chill” and “Once Beyond” show that this band’s songwriting skills are absolutely supreme. You won’t find any simple double bass drum driven songs with straightforward melodies on this album and the musicianship of this band is high above the average power metal band, featuring excellent drumming and riffing. And if one really has to call this album power metal then I can only say that Spirit Web is certainly the best power metal album I have heard in the year 2002, beating even Eidolon’s Coma Nation!

Spirit Web is an album that, due to the technicality and diversity, really has to grow on you. Don’t discard this album after listening to it only once but give it another try instead and you will notice that the songs, which might sound elusive and complex at first, become a whole lot more recognizable. If you dig technical bands like Eidolon, Psychotic Waltz and old Fates Warning, then this album is a very safe buy!