CoC : Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale : Review

Arcturus - _La Masquerade Infernale_
(Music For Nations, 1997)
by: Paul Schwarz (10 out of 10)

When a band produce an album of the quality, originality and sincerity of Arcturus' 1996 _Aspera Hiems Symfonia_, the pessimists among us sigh with regret for so often this is the sign for a band to slide. Arcturus are not submitting to that particular demon with their 2nd official album _La Masquerade Infernale_, although a repeat performance is also not on the menu. _LMI_ takes Arcturus' blend of black metal and classical symphony and distorts it into an almost unrecognisable mass which, when examined, is influenced by so much, and I suspect far more than just music, that it would induce hopelessness to try to pick each part individually -- and so one can only sit back and let the masquerade go round. If you liked, or loved, _AHS_ or if you want "metal" music with true emotion and atmosphere, don't read the rest of this review: it will spoil the surprises and degrade the wonder of hearing _LMI_ with fresh ears. If you're not convinced and you want to know more about _LMI_ I have a few short words for you: metal, drum n' bass, keyboards, harmony, clean vocals, unclean vocals, guitars, bass, drums, atmosphere + meat grinder. Happy now?

(article published 13/4/1998)

ALBUMS
8/1/2015	J Semprich	9	Arcturus - Arcturian
7/4/2003	Q Kalis	9.5	Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors
7/17/1996	B Meloon	9	Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia