Arcturus, the geniuses in the metal area!

Anticipation was announced to me, the Norwegians had me re thrilled with every album and have broken new ground in the ventured few bands, so I'm slightly disappointed. Let's start with the vocals, which is superior, almost masterly and with very demanding vocal lines, but not to everyone's taste to the voice of Simen sounds very self-contained and partly slightly operatic which may seem a little annoying in the long run! Personally, I like the song very well, because that Arcturus has always sounds so different from what indeed this band so was! Musically just happened too little, where are the bizarre elements the oblique tones and theatricality of La masquerade infernal, the madness melodies and enchanting sounds of the sham mirrors? ... But after several runs the plate grows and shows once again the genius of the Norwegians. The 6 Norwegians are brilliant musicians and you can hear on the disk also out, it just takes a little longer until you are in the sound universe of Arcturus and this feels not want to leave.

One notices only afterwards that the band has again taken a new approach and not be copied, which makes this band so great.

One finds oneself only times so from the things get quiet and melancholy, one finds pleasure in this album and recognize what brilliant musicians here are at work and contains an incredible varied and independent songwriting this album! Shipwrecked Frontier Pioneer surprised that a kidnapped with atmospheric female vocals and in the middle with an absolutely brilliant, but unfortunately a bit too short keyboard solo in a different world.

The songs are all very slow and sad which is reinforced especially by Simens singing, the drumming of Hellhammer is as usual again sovereign and the keyboards dominate the sound more than ever before, which is not to be considered negative because Sverd is a masterpiece his field! Gloomy spacey sound collages, symphonic elements and a morbid cold enveloped the individual songs that always sound a bit different.

Thus Arcturus is one of the most original band of the genre and have again decided on a new path, but you can find more difficult than access to the previous two, which is due to the somewhat sluggish songs and partly on vocals. Thus, you have to deal at great length with that album and take a long time, because the hearing besides it is not suitable and it certainly will not suit everyone meet for therefore be different! However, anyone who stands on dreamy, melancholic and symphonic funky music should definitely want to risk an ear!

But the masterpiece La Masquerade infernale remains unequaled, yet another brilliant disc of this unique band!