''State of Deception'' is the fifth full-length album by the Norwegian

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral ...

band, Conception. It is the band's first album in two decades with new material, and was released on 3 April 2020. A music video for "No Rewind" was released on 22 May 2021. On 6 June 2021, Conception announced that they would be releasing an expanded edition of the album in 2022, featuring live tracks, re-recordings and new songs. The deluxe version of the album features the single, "Monument in Time" which was released on 5 February 2022.

Critical reception

Alan Cox, a reporter from ''Sonic Perspectives'' rated the album 8.1 out of 10, and stated: "''State of Deception'' is not a perfect record. For one, it’s too short. And it could benefit from a couple more killer tracks. But both Khan and Østby provide their really unique 'voices' to deliver something that stands out for flares of uniqueness. It’s a record that requires multiple listens in headphones to fully appreciate for both the songwriting and production, and while it leaves the listener with a whetted appetite more than a fully satisfied stomach, there’s certainly enough to make those who missed Khan and Østby smile. And eagerly wonder what might be coming next."

Track listing

Notes

* The Japanese release of the album features two discs, with the second disc including the band's EP, '' My Dark Symphony''.

Personnel

All information from the album booklet. Band members *

Roy Khan Roy Sætre Khantatat ( th, รอย ขันธทัต; born 12 March 1970), commonly known as Roy Khan, is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. He is the lead singer for progressive metal band Conception and the former lead vocalist for symph ...

– vocals *

Tore Østby Tore Østby (born 1972) is a founder, guitarist, producer, and songwriter for Norwegian progressive metal band Conception. After the band stopped playing on a permanent basis (the band was active from 1989 to 1998 and went on a 10-year hiatus) he ...

– guitars, keyboards, bass on "Feather Moves" * Ingar Amlien – bass on tracks 1–8 * Arve Heimdal – drums Guests *

Elize Ryd Hanna Elise Isabell Maj Höstblomma Ryd (born 15 October 1984), known professionally as Elize Ryd, is a Swedish singer, best known as one of the three vocalists and co-lyricist in the metal band Amaranthe. She also gained some popularity prior to ...

– guest vocals on "The Mansion" * Miro – keyboards on "in: Deception", "No Rewind", "The Mansion" and "Anybody Out There" * Lars Andre Kvistum – keyboards, piano on "Waywardly Broken" and "The Mansion" * Lars Christian Narum – organ, mellotron on "Of Raven and Pigs", "By the Blues", "Anybody Out There" and "She Dragoon" * Aurora Amalie Heimdal – guest vocals on "She Dragoon", backing vocals on tracks 3, 6 and 7 Production * Seth Siro Anton – artwork * Gustavo Sazes – layout, design * Nils Harald Mæhlum – engineering * Tore Østby – engineering * John Anders Narum – engineering * Leif Johansen – engineering * Stefan Glaumann – mixing * Svante Forsbäck – mastering * Lars Lanhead – photography

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2020 albums Conception (band) albums