Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale

[J.]

OK, Empeor is now over, thank gawd. Anyone want mine? It's worth at least two CDs!!

Now onto Arcturus. Anyone still listen to this one? This actually sounds fresh now. I haven't played it in forever, but if I do pull it out for a listen, I usually only listen to The Chaos Path, since Hestnaes' performance on that song is one of the best ever, yes it's true, all arguments are null and void.

I can see where Opeth17 says Garm has that monotone voice, though. Almost sounds like he's bored.

Not something I will play often, but it's fun and different.

My Empeor album is available, and it's a great album! Just listen to Russell and gnre everyone else.

 

[Henrik Main]

I think thy keyboard is dodgy, unless you're pulling a pun that is beyond my comprehension. As for La Masquerade - I prefer Aspera Hiems Symfonia, but La Masquerade is still quality stuff. Good band.

 

[NAD]

This is one of those albums that requires attention or it'll sound boring. I still prefer The Sham Mirrors to their other stuff, and odds are I won't be getting any future Arcturus w/o Trickster G. being involved.

 

[J.]

yeah, I heard Hestnaes would be full time vocalist, or was that just a rumor? I'm not sure if that's a good thing, because I didn't like his Lamented SOuls trad doom stuff to much.

Sham Mirrors was awful

 

[speed]

I think the first 3 or is it 4 songs of La Masquerade are some of the best in metal ever. Especially Chaos Path. The rest of the album is kind of boring.

Yeah Sham Mirrors wasnt that great, there was one song I really enjoyed. The piano player wasnt the greatest I thought. I would have hired a new pianist.

 

[SonOfNun]

I think the first 3 or is it 4 songs of La Masquerade are some of the best in metal ever. Especially Chaos Path. The rest of the album is kind of boring.

I agree, except I would replace "best in metal ever" with "good." I listened to it a few days ago and it was decent stuff, gotta love The Chaos Path. The music was quality stuff at some points and at others kind of bland. As you know, I think Garm's voice is bland all of the time, so whenever Simen chimed in it was very welcome. I would consider buying their next album if Vortex sings on it though, his voice is a good fit for their style of music, much more so than Lamented Souls. The Sham Mirrors was crap, I traded it away quite awhile back.

 

[speed]

i said some, but still I love chaos path and Ad Astra. Is there a more dramatic song than the Chaos Path? I think not.

 

[Demonspell]

Yeah Sham Mirrors wasnt that great, there was one song I really enjoyed. The piano player wasnt the greatest I thought. I would have hired a new pianist.

I did not just read that. Sverd's keyboard work on The Sham Mirrors makes the album, I get chills whenever I hear the intro in Star-Crossed and the trance section in Nightmare Heaven. He is the driving force behind Arcturus, as enthralling as Garm's vocals were. Borrowing from the BG thread, does not compute.
And just to balance my defense of TSM, there is no beating the first three works of genius on LMI.

 

[speed]

Hm I thought the piano parts were way off, they just didnt fit the music all too well. To me, they sounded as if the piano was forced on top of the rest of the music, and they seemed cold and without emotion--which may have been intentional. But hey, what do I know? Just a fox news editorial opinion here.


Although Star crossed was my favorite song now that you mention its name.

 

[Dev]

I still rank The Sham Mirrors above all their releases.The new one should top this though (Vortex ogmogmgo sq;fqfqs)

 

[Dev]

On a side note , is anyone aware of the Disguised Masters thingie ; to put it briefly : is it the crapastic kind of remix I supposed this to be?

 

[Ellestin]

I hate to be dull but I worship their whole discography and the piano on "The Sham Mirrors" is an indulgence of mine - my right hand always head subconsciously for my pant flies each time "Star-Crossed" or the ending part of "For to End yet Again" kicks in. Shame...

 

[JayKeeley]

Say what you will about The Sham Mirrors, but the grand piano sections were PHENOMENAL. If there is ONE thing to take away from that album, it's the piano work. "Star Crossed" makes me urinate blood in glee.

 

[Dev]

That and Garm's performance , without the overly operatic yet enjoyable tone he had on some Masquerade tracks.Oh yes , I wish he still sang on a metal album , fanboy forever

 

[spaffe]

Say what you will about The Sham Mirrors, but the grand piano sections were PHENOMENAL. If there is ONE thing to take away from that album, it's the piano work. "Star Crossed" makes me urinate blood in glee.

Oh yes, thanks for reminding me, I can't recall when I last listened to this albums but it's delicous .

And yes Garm is awesome as usual and though I've never noticed the difference between the grand and usual piano that (those) is what really gives the album momentum imo.

 

[Henrik Main]

I second that, spaffe. "The Sham Mirrors" is absolutely fabulous stuff. Saying that Garm is boring and that Sverd sounds way off, is insanity.

 

[J.]

Sham Mirrors just never clicked with me. I think I expected/wanted La Masquerade part II, and didn't get it. Instead I got something more along the lines of Winds, who btw, suck ass.

 

[Dev]

Sham Mirrors just never clicked with me. I think I expected/wanted La Masquerade part II, and didn't get it. Instead I got something more along the lines of Winds, who btw, suck ass.

I see the Winds comparison , more in the sound than in the actual music though.

 

[MFJ]

Garm is the greatest vocalist of all time, and he has owned every single album he has participated in. Yes, even Vargnatt. That is all.


... and if you don't like Vargnatt, you're a bitch.

 

[IOfTheStorm]

One of the best albums ever