La Masquerade Infernale (1997) 
   There is certainly no shortage of praise for this work, the second by Arcturus, and I am pleased to add mine. With La Masquerade Infernale, Arcturus have cultivated that experimental element of black metal always lurking beneath the surface with bands like Emperor, Satyricon and The Kovanent and given it a spotlight. They explore the very limits of "black metal theatre" - in the process abandoning all grim vocals - while remaining comfortably within the black metal ethic. Although quite definately not just a side project, Arcturus' success also lies in the diversity of the musicians involved: Garm (Ulver, Borknagar), Hellhammer (Mayhem, The Kovenant), Sverd (Mayhem), Skoll (Ulver) and Knut M. Valle. The players' involvement in other more "traditional" black metal bands seems to have given them more permission for experimentation and risk taking with Arcturus. The album contains many ambient operatic elements, with convoluted song structures and instrumental arrangemenbts, with violins, violas, flutes, double basses and cornets, not to mention the impressive guest vocals of Vortex (currently Borknagar, Dimmu Borgir) for 'The Chaos Path'.
    The lyrics perhaps give further explanation to the peculiarity of the music, with a poem by Edgar Allen Poe and a quote from the Marquis de Sade in the packaging giving light to the cultural influences. The grandiose ambition of La Masquerade Infernale is perhaps the result of an uninhibited attempt to reclaim theatrical musical values from the past, giving a powerfully modern interpretation to musical techniques otherwise quite dated. Admittedly, Therion also comes to mind at times, both lyrically and musically, although the orchestral elements to Arcturus are perhaps less deliberate and contrived (ie they compliment and counterpose elements to the music, instead of just replacing guitars).
    La Masquerade Infernale was an album that was waiting to happen ever since Celtic Frost's Into the Pandemonium (1987). It delves to the heart of black metal and uncovers that which has otherwise been dabbled with and hinted at, but never fully realised in such a spectacular form. While its resemblance to, say, Darkthrone, is so minimal that many black metal fans will (or have been) alienated, it is nevertheless one of the more important statements made by black metal musicians and is a thouroughly necessary listen for any metal fan.