Misanthrope

Theatre Bizarre (Holy)
by Joshua Brown

The passions and furies which drive humanity to strange extremes are explored in Theatre Bizarre in a distinctly French manner. Moods range from psychotic carnival metal, to Faustian, Skyclad/Sabbat-like musical skits, to Dream Theater-esque progressive otherworldliness. Although the vocals growl and whine, never quite singing, Misanthrope intentionally fall just short of death metal. It’s closer to early Metal Blade releases by bands like Omen, Savage Grace, and the then-underground Fates Warning.