La Masquerade Infernale

Infobox Album | Name = La Masquerade Infernale
Type = Album
Artist = Arcturus


Released = October 27, 1997
Recorded = December 1996 - May 1997
Genre = Avant-garde metal
Length = 46:38
Label = Misanthropy Records Music For Nations
Candlelight Records
Producer = Kristoffer Rygg, Knut M. Valle
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:6dpsa9cgi23u link] | Last album = "Aspera Hiems Symfonia"
(1996)
This album = "La Masquerade Infernale"
(1997)
Next album = "Disguised Masters"
(1999)|

"La Masquerade Infernale" (the title meaning "the infernal masquerade" in French) is a 1997 album by Arcturus. Released by Misanthropy Records, the album is a huge step away from the slow, doom-influenced melodic black metal of Aspera Hiems Symfonia. It has a dark, eerie, almost carnival sound to it, featuring heavy use of synthesizers and samples, often making those elements more prominent than the guitar. Most of the songs revolve around the themes of theater, literature, and Satan. The characteristic screams of black metal are replaced by a gruff, low-toned clean vocal style, occasionally alternated with operatic singing or the bizarre high-pitched singing of guest singer Simen Hestnæs, who nine years later would replace Garm as the band's frontman. "LMI" is regarded by many as Arcturus' masterpiece and one of the greatest examples of avant-garde metal. It was reissued in 2003 by Candlelight Records, remastered and without the hidden track before track 1.

Track listing

0. "Hidden Track" (only on first pressing; rewind from track 1 to hear) – 1:27
1. "Master of Disguise" – 6:43
2. "Ad Astra" – 7:36
3. "The Chaos Path" – 5:34
4. "La Masquerade Infernale" – 2:00
5. "Alone" – 4:42
6. "The Throne of Tragedy" – 6:34
7. "Painting My Horror" – 5:59
8. "Of Nails and Sinners" – 6:03

Credits

*"G. Wolf" - Vocals, samples
*"Steinar Sverd Johnsen" - Keyboards
*"Hellhammer" - Drums
*"Knut M. Valle" - Guitars
*"Hugh Steven James Mingay aka "Skoll" - Bass

Guests

*"Simen "ICS Vortex" Hestnæs" : Lead vocals on "The Chaos Path", backing vocals on "Master Of Disguise" and "Painting My Horror"
*"Carl August Tidemann" : Additional lead guitars on "Ad Astra" and "Of Nails And Sinners"
*"Idun Felberg" : Cornet on "Ad Astra"
*"Erik Olivier Lancelot aka "AiwarikiaR" : Flute on "Ad Astra"
*"Svein Haugen" - Double bass
*"Vegard Johnsen" - Violin
*"Dorthe Dreier" - Viola
*"Hans Josef Groh" - Cello