Aquilus - Griseus (2011)

Ladies and gents, this isn't your grandma's symphonic black metal. No, this is hands-down one of the most ambitious, creative black metal albums ever made. Unlike most other bands who approach symphonic BM from a metal mindset, Aquilus reverses the process and uses the BM parts to enhance the classical compositions. And speaking of the compositions, they're some of the most beautiful and well constructed I've heard in either metal or classical. Unlike the cheap synths some other bands rely on, there is nothing hackneyed, cheesy, or lazy on this album. This is the work of one man who's truly dedicated to his music and has made an absolutely spellbinding masterpiece of an album. "Griseus" should be the textbook standard when it comes to mixing metal with classical though I highly doubt any other band can make music of such a high caliber as this.
10/10