At War with Self
A progressive project changing lineup and style with each album.
At War with Self is a musical project conceived by multi-instrumentalist Glenn Snelwar, best known as one of the guitarists on the Gordian Knot debut album. The project is characterized by its changing lineup and stylistic approach for each release, combining disparate styles such as progressive rock, metal, jazz, ambient, and classical music.
- field
- Progressive rock, metal, jazz, ambient, classical
- known_for
- Instrumental trio and duo albums blending classical guitars with progressive and thrash metal
- founder
- Glenn Snelwar
Lore & Background
At War with Self was conceived by Glenn Snelwar, who had previously played guitar on the Gordian Knot debut album. The project's first album, Torn Between Dimensions (2005), featured drummer Mark Zonder and bassist Michael Manring as an instrumental trio, creating tight-knit compositions that blended progressive rock, metal, jazz, ambient, and classical styles. The album received critical acclaim and grew a following through word of mouth.
For the second release, Acts of God (2007), Snelwar changed nearly every facet of the project while staying true to its underlying inspiration of combining disparate styles. The duo of Snelwar and Damon Trotta (bass, vocals, synths, programming) was assisted by several other musicians including James Von Buelow, Steve Decker, Mark Sunshine, Dave Archer, and Manfred Dikkers.
The third album, A Familiar Path (2009), returned to Snelwar's roots, combining classical guitars with progressive and thrash metal. Featuring drummer Manfred Dikkers, the album included instrumental tracks such as a hybrid half-classical, half-metal rendition of a Heitor Villa-Lobos guitar study, and a new rendering of 'Reflections' originally from the Gordian Knot debut. The album also featured vocal-centered tracks and artwork completing the emotion and intensity of the music.
Circadian Rhythm Disorder (2015) featured drummer Marco Minnemann, though the recording was described as another version of Minnemann's drum solo project Normalizer 2. For the untitled fifth album, drummer Alex Arellano was invited to play.
Reader's Guide
At War with Self represents a deliberate, evolving approach to progressive music, with each album featuring different collaborators and stylistic shifts while maintaining a core concept of boundary-free composition. The project's significance lies in its demonstration of how a single artist's vision can be realized through multiple configurations, from instrumental trios to duos with guest musicians. The inclusion of classical guitar elements within metal and progressive frameworks, particularly on A Familiar Path, highlights Snelwar's ability to merge seemingly disparate genres. The project's legacy is tied to its critical reception and growing word-of-mouth following, as well as its connections to notable musicians from the progressive and metal scenes, including members of Cynic, Watchtower, King Crimson, and Dream Theater through Snelwar's earlier work with Gordian Knot.
Did You Know?
- The debut album Torn Between Dimensions featured bassist Michael Manring and drummer Mark Zonder.
- Acts of God included contributions from multiple musicians, including Damon Trotta on didgeridoo.
- A Familiar Path contains a hybrid half-classical, half-metal rendition of a Heitor Villa-Lobos guitar study.
- Circadian Rhythm Disorder is described as another version of Marco Minnemann's drum solo project Normalizer 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is At War with Self?
At War with Self is an American progressive metal project founded by multi-instrumentalist Glenn Snelwar, who is also recognized as a guitarist on the Gordian Knot debut album. It operates as an instrumental ensemble that deliberately reshapes both its personnel and its sonic palette from one record to the next.
What genres does At War with Self blend together?
The project weaves progressive rock, thrash and progressive metal, jazz, ambient textures, and classical guitar passages into a single instrumental framework. No two releases sound alike, since Snelwar treats each album as a fresh stylistic experiment rather than a continuation of the last.
Why does At War with Self's lineup change so often?
The shifting roster is a core creative principle of the project rather than a byproduct of member departures. Snelwar intentionally assembles a different trio or duo for each release so that the musical direction can pivot freely between, say, a jazz-influenced album and a more aggressive thrash-tinged one.
What is At War with Self most known for?
Fans and critics point to the project's instrumental trio and duo albums that pair classical guitar voicings with heavy progressive and thrash metal riffs. That collision of acoustic elegance and metal intensity is the signature that sets the group apart in the progressive scene.
Is At War with Self a traditional band or a solo project?
It is best described as a musical project with a rotating cast of collaborators rather than a fixed band. Glenn Snelwar serves as the constant creative center, while the other members shift from album to album to suit whatever genre blend he is pursuing at the time.
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