EVIL MASQUERADE - WELCOME TO THE SHOW (2004)
The band Evil Masquerade has called this type of metal theatrical metal and there´s something about it, because the band have their own style and sound I must say. And I was thinking over the stages at many theatres there are two masks, one with a sad face and one with a smiling face and I am sitting here with a big big smile because this masterpiece of an album you are getting in great mood. And first it is great to see Henrik Brockmann in front of a band again because he is a brilliant singer and was singing on the first two albums from Royal Hunt, and already there I could see he was great. On this album he sings in many different ways from very angry to straight down the line with a great feeling. And in this band I must say a great Swedish guitarist is playing, the axemaster himself Henrik Flyman who also is playing on the new album from Wuthering Heights. He plays with great feeling and very hard riffing. And not to forget the rythm section, Kasper Gram on bass and Dennis Buhl on the drums. I must say it is a total powerstation to hear these two young guys hammering out their souls in great style. On many of the numbers there are keyboards from fantastic musicians like Andre Andersen from Royal Hunt, Richard Andersson who plays with such acts like Time Requiem and Space Odyssey, Mats Olausson who had played with Malmsteen and Kamelot. There are also a Danish keyboardman on this album, Lars Boutrup, doing his stuff on the number "Children Of The Light". The mix on this album is done by Steen Mogensen from Cornerstone with great care. This album is full of the great numbers like "The Wind Will Rise", where you really can hear Henrik Flyman doing his stuff, I must say this man is a devil on the axe. "Oh Harlequin" is another great track where you really can hear the band working together really tight as a unit. The last track on this album is a killer simply called "Evil Masquerade" and it is a very fast and heavy number where Henrik Brockmann is singing his lungs out and shows what he can. I must say I am deeply impressed by this album, very strong melodies with the mix of classical tunes just the way I like it. If there should be something about this album I don't like it would be a little too much keyboard here and there. This fine album will be on my playlist for a long time no doubt about that. This worldclass album must have 10/10. (Review by: Ole Bach)