Diabolical Masquerade was a Swedish one-man avant-garde metal band masterminded by musician Anders Nyström, also known as Blakkheim. Blakkheim is famously known for his role in the influential Swedish band Katatonia. Diabolical Masquerade was conceived as a creative outlet for Blakkheim’s more eccentric musical experimentations, a project where he could explore the darker and more theatrical side of extreme metal. The project flourished during the late 1990s into the early 2000s, gaining a cult following for its unique blending of black metal with symphonic and progressive elements, all wrapped in an enigmatic aura.

The discography of Diabolical Masquerade notably includes the 1996 album "Ravendusk In My Heart," which established the band's penchant for melodically rich and atmospheric soundscapes. The 1997 follow-up, "The Phantom Lodge," continued to delve into intricate arrangements and eerie moods. With the 1998 release of "Nightwork," Diabolical Masquerade pushed further into the realm of the avant-garde, integrating even more complex compositions and a heightened sense of theatricality. The final act of Blakkheim’s creative project came in the form of "Death's Design" in 2001, a concept album featuring 61 tracks blended to present 20 movements of a score to an imaginary horror film, which was hailed as an ambitious and fitting swan song to the project's run. After this zenith of orchestration and meticulous composition, Diabolical Masquerade was eventually laid to rest, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and creative fearlessness in the metal genre.