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EVIL MASQUERADE |
keyboards and neo-classically inspired themes. Pulling together some of the best elements of bands like Royal Hunt, Symphony X, Malmsteen and Rainbow, its bombastically overblown brand of symphonic metal is packed with melodramatic imagery and contrasting emotions. Heavy and relentless, dynamic and sweeping, its arresting guitar flurries and achingly good melodies make 'Welcome To The Show' one of the best releases of it's type since Richard Andersson's Space Odyssey album 'Embrace The Galaxy'. Just why it's taken Flyman so long to emerge as a guitar talent of this magnitude is anyone's guess, but on the strength of his display here, the whole neo-classical metal scene is gonna have to reassess it's opinion of him. Part Malmsteen, part Johnny Ohlin (Nation, Dionysus), Flyman leads from the front with a breathtaking display of bombastic riffs and searing solo's. As the aforementioned 'Ride Of The Valkyries/Grand Opening' reaches it's explosive climax, Evil Masquerade launch full tilt into the equally dynamic title track'Welcome To The Show' - dramatic and atmospheric, this is sizzling, symphonic power metal at its awe-inspiring best! Changing up a gear the band the head straight for the jugular with the symphonic overdrive of 'The Wind Will Rise' |
- Flyman riffs with the force of a demon, and just check out the brilliant guitar/keyboard duel with Richard Andersson mid song. 'Oh Harlequin' by comparison is a mere gentle cantor, it's more measured dose of bombast relying on the hauntingly melodic Arabian thread which runs throughout to make its point. But that's only the beginning, and having grabbed your attention with such a remarkable opening salvo, Evil Masquerade have absolutely no intention of letting go until you've sold you're very soul to the devil. There's the careering 'Surprises In The Dark' for starters, all marauding and malevolent, it weaves half or dozen or more well known classical motifs into a scorching slab of riff driven angst. 'But You Were Smiling …' has a precision engineered, almost militaristic beat, the epic 'Lucy The Evil' has probably the biggest hook on the entire album, and the slow burning 'Deliver Us' builds from humble beginnings to a gritty, thunderous climax. Neo-classical, symphonic metal has had a rougher ride than most over the past decade or so, but if it can still turn out gems like 'Welcome To The Show', it's a long way from the dead duck most would have you believe. Brilliant! 9.5/10 Dave Cockett |
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Hard Roxx 2 http://www.z-roxx.com/hr2%20issue%2012%20%20master1.pdf BACK 2 EVIL NEWS |
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