What makes Fables of the Sleepless Empire by Unexpect notable?

Fables of the Sleepless Empire received critical praise for its ambitious compositions and genre-defying sound, solidifying Unexpect's place in progressive metal. The album's eclectic approach influenced a wave of experimental bands and resonated within underground music circles, showcasing their ability to push creative boundaries. Released on May 31, 2011, Fables of the Sleepless Empire marked Unexpect's fourth studio album and showcased their unique fusion of styles. This album came after their 2006 release, In a Flesh Aquarium, which had garnered critical acclaim and helped establish them as innovative figures in the progressive metal scene.

How many songs are on Fables of the Sleepless Empire?

Fables of the Sleepless Empire has 11 tracks, running approximately 55 minutes.

Fables of the Sleepless Empire

Unexpect · 2011

55 min · 11 tracks · progressive metal

A chaotic blend of progressive metal, jazz, and orchestral elements that challenges the boundaries of genre.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Unsolved Ideas of a Distorted Guest — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its intricate structure and dynamic shifts, highlighting the band's virtuosic musicianship.
→
Mechanical Phoenix — Blending heavy instrumentation with melodic passages, this track exemplifies the album’s theme of rebirth through chaos, merging technicality and emotion.
→
Words — Featuring an interplay between aggressive riffs and delicate melodies, this song encapsulates the lyrical depth and complexity that defines the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album's ambitious compositions and genre-blending sound create a unique listening experience.

What we noticed

Vocals alternate between harsh screams and melodic singing, creating a dynamic contrast that enhances the emotional intensity of the tracks.
Several tracks incorporate complex arrangements with layered instrumentation, including strings and brass, which contribute to its genre-blending sound.
The final track is notably longer than the others, allowing for an expansive conclusion that revisits themes from earlier songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Unsolved Ideas of a Distorted Guest 6:54
2 Words 5:57
3 Orange Vigilantes 4:55
4 Mechanical Phoenix 6:55
5 The Quantum Symphony 6:04
6 Unfed Pendulum 7:55
7 In the Mind of the Last Whale 2:58
8 Silence This Parasite 5:19
9 A Fading Stance 2:06
10 When the Joyful Dead Are Dancing 4:38
11 Until Yet a Few More Deaths Do Us Part 2:05

What to play next

Go back to

In a Flesh Aquarium

2006

Full Unexpect discography Artists like Unexpect

progressive metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata