LA MASQUERADE INFERNALE

After my disappointing encounter with the symphonic metal blob called "The Sham Mirrors" my hopes weren't exactly high for "La Masquerada Infernale", and indeed it's an even bigger disappointment: poor songwriting, atrocious operatic vocals, pointles shredding moments and new-age keyboard bombast that has to pass for avant-garde. Well, at least it sounds quite unique, almost like an spinal tap of other symphonic Blackmetal acts of that time. That's about the only positive point I can come up with.

The main issue is with the songwriting again, despite the tons of effects and symphonic distractions the lack of interesting riffs and melodies is all too apparent. As if the band was more concerned about the desired sound then about the actual content. The tracks are undeserving to be called "songs", they just work their way through a couple of uninspired melodies that any decent musician would divert to the garbage can right away.

Arcturus became quite popular with this in their time. Well it wasn't really a really huge time for metal. Looking from 2011 it hasn't withstood the test of time very well. This album is a big gold-plated shell with not much inside. Plastic Metal. Avoid.