Death's Design

From Katatonia mastermind Anders Blakkheim Nyström, Peaceville presents the fourth and final album from his symphonic extreme metal solo-project, Diabolical Masquerade, which launched onto the scene in 1996 with the release of debut album Ravendusk in My Heart.

Deaths Design was first released in 2001 when it was speculated that the album was originally to appear as an actual movie soundtrack before the film was unfortunately cancelled. Past guest musician Dan Swanö featured alongside Blakkheim as a more prominent and involved contributor to this black metal horror soundtrack.

The album is draped in dark atmosphere courtesy of the synth and sound effects throughout and taken even further with the inclusion of the Maalten quartet (Estonia), making for a more orchestral and epic experience, mixed with black and traditional metal influences.

The album consists of 61 seamlessly flowing segments, grouped into 20 movements, recalling the finely-honed execution and composition of acts such as Emperor. Deaths Design is hailed as a high-point in the band's discography, and the pinnacle of the Diabolical Masquerade saga, before Blakkheim called it a day and disbanded in September 2004.