Transcending Bizarre? - The Misanthrope's Fable

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\r\n  What the hell, why is this the first time I’m\r\nhearing about these guys?  Shame on me\r\nthat I got to know them just now, when they’ve been around since 2000.  Transcending Bizarre? from Thessaloniki have\r\njust released their third album entitled “The Misanthrope’s Fable”.  First of all, these lads sent me a regular CD\r\ncopy of their album and not just a promo, which made a very good first\r\nimpression.  That way I got myself more acquainted\r\nwith their release.  Judging from the\r\nbeautiful artwork, I prepared myself to listen to something in the likes of\r\nArcturus.  For the most part, I was right.\r\n

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\r\n  The influences from the Norwegians’ “La\r\nMasquerade Infernale” era, are more than obvious.  The production is excellent and helps their complicated\r\nmusic to sound as it should.  Awesome\r\ntechnical drumming and super tight strings -bass and guitars- create the\r\nscenery for the highlights of Transcending Bizarre? ‘s music to come forth.  These are non-other than the keys and the\r\nvocals.  Normally I’m not touched by too\r\nmuch keyboard usage but here we’re talking about really inspired stuff and a correct\r\nuse of the instrument.  The keyboardist\r\ncan teach a thing or two to many of his foreign colleagues!  The vocals on the other hand, vary from\r\nscreams and growls, to crystal clear and even frenzied mumbles that highlight\r\nthe already paranoid atmosphere.  The\r\nresult is highly theatrical, without losing the aggressiveness and the nerve of\r\nthe band‘s majestic/heavy black.  The\r\nsmart use of the children’s choir adds to the album a heavenly touch.\r\n

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\r\n  Some bands that came in mind while listening\r\nto “ The Misanthrope’s Fable” are Cradle Of Filth at its best (Midian), Dimmu\r\nBorgir (only a bit), King Diamond and even Dirty Granny Tales, mostly due to\r\ntheir theatrical feel.  Of course Arcturus’\r\nspirit lingers all over the album but not in a “I’m trying to copy them” kind\r\nof way.  More in a “Look, I can do it\r\nequally good” kind of way!  I’m not going\r\nto mention any particular songs because they are all superb, there are no mediocre\r\nmoments here and the album should be enjoyed as a whole from its beginning to\r\nits end.  The only thing I have to say is\r\nthat “Broad Daylight Misanthropy” should be praised by many famous seasoned\r\nmusicians of the genre.\r\n

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\r\n  To sum up this is a terrific effort on the avant-garde\r\nmajestic/black genre, that easily beats many of the highly acclaimed “leaders”\r\nof the scene and their tasteless recent albums. \r\nHigh quality stuff from a Greek band that proves that talent is not an\r\nunknown term in the local metal scene. \r\nAs for me…ten Hail Marys and half an hour of self-whipping for not\r\nknowing them all this time!  I am\r\nanticipating their next move, I’m going to be listening to their previous work\r\nand I would really like to watch them live performing their music.  Bravo!\r\n

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