La masquerade infernale Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  La masquerade infernale |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | October 27, 1997 |
| Genres | Avant-garde Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal |
| Labels | Music for Nations |
| Length | 45:13 |
| Ranked | #21 for 1997 , #1,021 all-time |
Album rating : 88.3 / 100
Votes : 24 (4 reviews)
Votes : 24 (4 reviews)
July 26, 2023
Arcturus went from cold, compelling Symphonic Black Metal soundscapes to… bizarro twisted circus Metal.
This thing is loaded with different influences; the most prominent styles are Symphonic, Progressive, and Avant-Garde Metal, but there are flavors of Dark Cabaret, Symphonic Black Metal, Drum n Bass, Modern Classical, and probably some other stuff. Interestingly, it reminds me of Sigh from Japan stylistically.
Incredibly interesting and ever changing, but at the end of the day, much less enjoyable than their old style. Some of the songs here are quite great, but even those don’t leave any sense of memorability because this album is not focused on riffs or melody. Rather, you’re more likely to remember a song as “the one that has that circus march theme in it for a minute” or “the one where he does those really goofy operatic vocals.” Just doesn’t suit me much, but I respect the innovation and uniqueness.
This thing is loaded with different influences; the most prominent styles are Symphonic, Progressive, and Avant-Garde Metal, but there are flavors of Dark Cabaret, Symphonic Black Metal, Drum n Bass, Modern Classical, and probably some other stuff. Interestingly, it reminds me of Sigh from Japan stylistically.
Incredibly interesting and ever changing, but at the end of the day, much less enjoyable than their old style. Some of the songs here are quite great, but even those don’t leave any sense of memorability because this album is not focused on riffs or melody. Rather, you’re more likely to remember a song as “the one that has that circus march theme in it for a minute” or “the one where he does those really goofy operatic vocals.” Just doesn’t suit me much, but I respect the innovation and uniqueness.
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | video | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Master of Disguise | 6:43 | 85 | 5 | Audio |
| 2. | Ad Astra | 7:36 | 91.4 | 7 | Audio |
| 3. | The Chaos Path | 5:32 | 92.1 | 7 | Audio |
| 4. | La Masquerade Infernale | 1:59 | 76.7 | 3 | |
| 5. | Alone | 4:39 | 86 | 5 | Audio |
| 6. | The Throne of Tragedy | 6:33 | 82.5 | 4 | |
| 7. | Painting My Horror | 5:59 | 83.8 | 4 | |
| 8. | Of Nails and Sinners | 6:06 | 85 | 4 | Audio |
Line-up (members)
- Kristoffer Rygg (Garm) : Vocals
- Knut M. Valle : Guitars
- Hugh Steven James Mingay (Skoll) : Bass
- Jan Axel Von Blomberg (Hellhammer) : Drums
- Steinar Sverd Johnsen : Keyboards
16 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | ▶ La masquerade infernale Review (1997) | 70 | Jul 26, 2023 | 0 | ||
| | 90 | Oct 4, 2019 | 1 | |||
 | | The Sham Mirrors Review (2002) | 90 | Jul 14, 2016 | 5 | ||
 | | Arcturian Review (2015) | 95 | Jul 4, 2015 | 5 | ||
 | | Sideshow Symphonies Review (2005) | 100 | Jul 3, 2015 | 0 | ||
| | Arcturian Review (2015) | 100 | May 23, 2015 | 3 | ||
 | | Aspera Hiems Symfonia Review (1996) | 80 | Jul 23, 2014 | 3 | ||
| | The Sham Mirrors Review (2002) | 96 | Jan 15, 2011 | 0 | ||
 | | Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel Review (2002) [Compilation] | 96 | Jan 14, 2011 | 1 | ||
| | Aspera Hiems Symfonia Review (1996) | 96 | Jan 14, 2011 | 2 | ||
| | Sideshow Symphonies Review (2005) | 100 | Dec 12, 2009 | 0 | ||
| | 100 | Apr 5, 2009 | 0 | |||
| | Sideshow Symphonies Review (2005) | 86 | Nov 29, 2007 | 0 | ||
| | Aspera Hiems Symfonia Review (1996) | 90 | Nov 30, 2006 | 3 | ||
| | 86 | Nov 9, 2005 | 0 | |||
| | The Sham Mirrors Review (2002) | 88 | Nov 9, 2005 | 0 |
1
Arcturian Review (2015)
fruupp 95/100Jul 4, 2015 Likes : 5
아무리 수퍼밴드라도 매번 일정 퀄리티이상의 앨범을 뽑아내기란 여간 어려운게 아니다. 물론 지금껏 많은 앨범을 발매한건 아니지만 평균이상 수준을 넘어 명반대접을 받을만한 우수한 결과물을 모두 장식장에 전시하게 만드는 슈퍼그룹의 5번째 걸작이 10여년의 긴시간 산고끝에 지금 ... Read More
Arcturian Review (2015)
KimiRaikkonen 100/100May 23, 2015 Likes : 3
수퍼밴드의 성공적인 귀환.
잘 나가던 밴드가 활동을 중지하고, 한참 후에 돌아오는 게 쉬운 일은 아니다. 이런 경우, 팬들은 대부분 걱정부터 하기 마련이다. '그냥 전설로 남지...' 라는 생각이 드는 케이스가 워낙 수두룩하니...
악튜러스는 이전 네 장의 앨범이 전부 걸작인데다 멤버... Read More
KimiRaikkonen 96/100Jan 14, 2011 Likes : 2
'추운 겨울의 교향곡'
이 앨범의 제목인 Aspera Hiems Symfonia의 뜻입니다. 추운 북유럽의 겨울 밤하늘을 그대로 옮겨놓은 듯한 앨범이고요. 오로라가 그려진 커버아트와도 잘 어울리네요:)
악튜러스의 특징은 우주적, 전위적, 연극적 요소인데 이 앨범엔 연극적 느낌은 적지만 차가운 공간... Read More
Aspera Hiems Symfonia/Constellation/My Angel Review (2002) [Compilation]
KimiRaikkonen 96/100Jan 14, 2011 Likes : 1
이 앨범은 Aspera Hiems Symfonia에 이들의 싱글인 My Angel과 Constellation을 포함시키고 미공개 트랙인 The Deep Is The Skies와 Cosmojam을 수록하여 재발매한 앨범입니다. Aspera Hiems Symfonia 앨범에 실린 네 곡(버전은 다르지만)이 Constellation에 실려 있고, My Angel과 Morax는 My Angel 앨범에 실려있어요.
일단 미... Read More
