Archard, Cyril
Confusion

March 2003
Released: 2002, Lion Music
Rating: 2.0/5
Reviewer: Night of the Realm

Confusion is precisely the first word that came to mind when I listened to Lion Music’s remastered reissue of French guitar-lord Cyril Archard’s 1997 album, CONFUSION.



Confusion in that the album has nothing to do at all with metal, nor even prog rock.



Confusion in that a so-called guitar virtuoso should show, well, more virtuosity.



Confusion in that Cyril is a classically-educated guitarist, with a vast formal training, yet his compositions are boring and lifeless.



For such a skilled guitarist (Cyril teaches guitar at the French Musical Institute of Bordeaux), Cyril Archard’s album lacks in the basic departments of punch, and memorable songwriting. CONFUSION is 8 tracks (plus three tracks of demos) and 54 minutes of meandering guitar instrumentals. Listening to the album, I am lost in the lack of structure as each song wanders without purpose throughout. The only track on the album which caught my ear is “Pharaeons,” the most shredding song on CONFUSION. The first three tracks are not bad, either, but unfortunately, there is not enough substance here to capture my interest.