A.C.T.U.S.
After nine years ACTUS again performs in front of a Hungarian audience with a two-hour audiovisual show specially composed for this occasion. The program features the headline performance of the Mandala pieces at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig last year, plus lots of earlier songs from past albums in never before heard version.
All the words of the human language fail miserably if trying to tell anyone what is ACTUS I believe it’s utterly useless to go on with this review… They elaborate highly intriguing, experimental form of new-age ambient with unique musical and lyrical ideas behind it… and that’s all I can say here… A masterpiece. (Rusmetal, RU)
Indispensable. (Heimdallr, F)
We can find industrial sound collages and symphonic influences on the albums released so far. Among the great number of instruments used, the acoustic guitar and the various woodwind instruments have essential importance, while we can also hear liturgical choruses and the voice of a coloratura soprano singer at times. The experience only attainable through the music of ACTUS is completed by electronic sounds echoing early ‘70s sound, and even metal riffs. (Magna, H)
Mandala is a definitive masterpiece, a multi-faceted jewel, probably the best album of 2005, a complete work of art, and something absolutely different from anything you can hear these days. (Solil Noir, CH)
ACTUS have clearly saved the best until last. But yet another phase is brought into play, with torrid horns, frenetic timpani and an unforgettable chorus; each topped off with the sound of a howling wind.
This is certainly one of the best albums I’ve heard for quite a while. (Synthesis, GB)