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Back in stock - Extreme Metal and Dark music
On their sophomore full-length "La Masquerade Infernale" (1997), ARCTURUS took their musical experimenting three ambitious steps further. The Norwegians succeeded in wedding a devilish concept loosely based on the characters of Faust and Mephistopheles with an eclectic range of surreal sound elements into an album that is rightfully considered a prime example of what later came to be known as avant-garde metal. From quoting Edgar Allan Poe in operatic paraphrases by frontman Garm (ULVER) or the additional high notes from the unmistakable I.C.S. Vortex (BORKNAGAR) via the spaced-out electronic samples, classical instrumentation, and an even increased use of psychedelic guitar riffage alongside more "traditional" black and death metal elements. Brilliant guitarist Knut Magne Valle replaced Carl August Tideman, which brought stability to this position of the band's line-up. ARCTURUS aimed dangerously high with "La Masquerade Infernale" – but remarkably pulled off the extremely difficult feat of forging such widely differing elements into a wildly fascinating, over the top listening experience that has stood the test of time and surely deserves to be labelled a "masterpiece".
CD | Digipack + 24 paged booklet & poster
The official Beherit debut album, recorded back in 1990 in Ala Ky Studio, Rovaniemi. Because of the problems with Turbo Music the album was never released until Sodomatic Slaughter found the master tape in his personal collection in 2010.
Recorded live in the studio by Nuclear Holocausto Vengeance and Sodomatic Slaughter.
Contains two previously unreleased tracks and the other tracks are different to what has been available before.
Collector's Edition in 4-panel digipack with 8-page booklet, limited to 800 copies. Co-release with Purity Through Fire.
The work of one Alexis Chiambretto, with drums provided by Nicolas Muller, UNHOLDUN's style of black metal is simple but sublime. Although the band hails from France, the sweepingly melodic surge which pushes this self-titled record forward favorably recalls the Québec scene that's made waves in the underground for the past decade-plus. Melancholic yet triumphant, faintly folky but never mawkish, its ever-insistent propulsion taking dynamic twists and turns, and even some commanding lead work cropping up, Unholdun retains a certain timelessness: looking to the past, UNHOLDUN nevertheless feel very NOW.
"I didn't try to revolutionize black metal with this EP," says Alexis. "It's more like 'a tribute' to the good, old black metal. So, I would like to feel a little bit the 90's vibe, even in the artwork." Expanding on that latter element, he says, "The devil on the front cover plays a 'carnyx,' a French trumpet used by Gauls before a war to frighten enemies." Sound that trumpet, then, for the arrival of UNHOLDUN!
