LA MASQUERADE INFERNALE

One of the most original albums I've ever heard. The music transcends the boundaries of metal, creating an undefined atmosphere very particular to the band. It's not really heavy metal, not really black metal, not really... anything recognizable.

The album starts with "Master Of Disguise", a very progressive song with carnivalesque music and semi-operatic vocals. "Ad Astra" is a three-part song: a first instrumental part with strings and violin remembering me of the slow doom of My Dying Bride, a second classical instrumental part with piano and violin again and finally a third part that could be described as gypsy trance music with distorted vocals - total frenzy. Then "The Chaos Path"... an awesome track with guest vocalist Simon Hestnaes giving an operatic feel to the totally clownesque music. "La Masquerade Infernale" is a short piano instrumental with background music that seems to be played backwards. "Alone" is maybe the most conventional song on the album - good classic metal with powerful vocals. "The Throne Of Tragedy", a song based on a poem, brings back the atmosphere of the carnivalesque music. "Painting My Horror" is again very original - the progressive felling is here enhanced by a mid-part very similar to Pink Floyd's "The Trial" (or any of the lighter songs on "The Wall"). "Of Nails And Sinners" continues and ends the journey with some more spacey elements that will appear on later releases.

Rating: 95/100 (exceptionnal)