Arcturus 'Aspera Hiems Symphonia'

[Eoin McLove]

https://youtu.be/mi-WmIgec_o

Pre-orders are up for the boxset. Looks fantastic but that price is a spicy meatball! Postage will be frightening too.  Time to get saving!

[Thorn]

Would defo be interested in that, my Arcturus schtuff is all over the show format wise, actually mostly probably on C90s, that would certainly tie the room together alright

[Eoin McLove]

I didn't bite the bullet on the boxset in the end but I ordered the individual Aspera Hiems Symfonia and La Masquerade Infernale LPs which I'm still eagerly waiting to see delivered.

I've been listening to La Masquerade quite a bit lately, and it's not one that ever fully clicked with me before to be honest. I'm still not sure if I like Garm's vocals or hate them. It's strange that he keeps the singing so monotonous where on The Sham Mirrors he proved himself to be an incredibly talented and dynamic singer. At the same time, that weird forced lower register singing makes La Masquerade sound extra bizarre and unique so it works in that sense... the inner debate rages on!

[Thanatos]

I loved La Masquerade at the time. I'd never heard anything quite like it then, and probably now too. It sounds a bit dated these days, but there's still a weird naive pretentiousness to it that's balanced out and partially justified by the accomplished musicianship. It was definitely more interesting to me than the utter shite some of my peers were venerating back then.

Been listening to Malignant Eternal's Tårnet a fair bit lately, which gives me similar vibes to Aspera Heims in places... Though much rougher around the edges.

https://youtu.be/VwvRUqsS5QE

[jpm4]

I. At the same time, that weird forced lower register singing makes La Masquerade sound extra bizarre and unique so it works in that sense... the inner debate rages on!

Exactly! Which is the reason The Sham Mirrors is unloved by me - the singing might be technically better but also more boring. I'd never get bored of listening to late 90s Garm vocals, whatever the band is. La Masquerade is one of my fav 90s metal albums for the vocals and lead guitar work alone.