''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 genres, fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven s ...

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 ''My Dark Symphony'' is the first EP by the Norwegian power metal/progressive metal band, Conception. It is the first Conception EP with new original material since their last studio album '' Flow'' in 1997, and was released on 23 November 2018 ...

''.

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