Search - Arcturus :: La Masquerade Infernale

An acclaimed masterpiece

Herodotos Economides | Limassol, N/A Cyprus | 05/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arcturus' first album "Aspera Hiems Symphonia" was a collaboration of "superstars" from the Norwegian Black Metal scene like Garm (Ulver,Borknagar) , Hellhammer (Mayhem,Thorns,Kovenant,Winds) , Samoth (Emperor,Zyklon B) and others . "Aspera Hiems Symphonia" was an album of cold symphonic black metal similar to bands like Emperor or Limbonic Art with a few clean vocals by Garm. While "Aspera Hiems Symphonia" was a very good album for the time's standards no one could expect that the band who released that album could write such a masterpiece like "La Masquerade Infernale". "La Masquerade Infernale" has little to nothing at all to do with metal music. The basis of the music played here is classical music and opera while the symphonic elements of their previous album are still there. The music is consisted of symphonic keyboards, mostly soft guitars and Garm's alternating but ever so colorful voice. The whole album also seems to inspire a theatrical sense to its music. Garm's performance is amazing especially on tracks like "Alone" and "Painting My Horror" where he reminds me of a madman singing. I must also comment on the magnificent instrumental "Ad Astra", a superb example of how neoclassical and metal music can co-exist, with Sverd showing his colleagues how keyboards should be played. I will not waste any more words on this masterpiece since the only thing they do is reduce its greatness. I will just add that if you plan on buying one music CD in your life...well then...buy this one!!!



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