On their sophomore album, La Masquerade Infernale (1997), ARCTURUS pushed the boundaries of musical experimentation to audacious new heights. The Norwegian avant-garde metal pioneers crafted a devilish concept inspired by the archetypal figures of Faust and Mephistopheles, weaving it into a surreal tapestry of eclectic sounds. This groundbreaking release is now widely regarded as a cornerstone of avant-garde metal.
Blending operatic paraphrases of Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry, delivered by the enigmatic Garm (ULVER), with the soaring vocal flourishes of I.C.S. Vortex (BORKNAGAR), the album fuses spaced-out electronic samples, classical instrumentation, and psychedelic guitar riffs with black and death metal roots. The result is a daring, cohesive soundscape that defies convention. The arrival of guitarist Knut Magne Valle, replacing Carl August Tideman, brought newfound stability to the band’s lineup, bolstering their creative vision.
With La Masquerade Infernale, ARCTURUS aimed for the stars, masterfully uniting disparate elements into a wildly captivating, over-the-top listening experience. Decades later, this timeless masterpiece continues to resonate as a landmark in experimental metal.
Tracklist:
1. Master Of Disguise
2. Ad Astra
3. The Chaos Path
4. La Masquerade Infernale
5. Alone
6. The Throne Of Tragedy
7. Painting My Horror
8. Of Nails And Sinners
