Welcome to the show
(Frontiers,2004)
Producer: Henrik Flyman
Style: Powermetal
Format: Album
Website: http://www.melodic.net/latestreviews2.asp#
Reviewed by: Juha
Mats Olausson (Malmsteen), André Andersen (Royal Hunt) and Richard Andersson (Majestic, Time Reguime) and how many albums features them playing on the same album? Evil Masquerade delivers a good album that reminds of early Royal Hunt mixed with Yngwie Malmsteen and I have to say that this is better. If you like me thought the last Royal Hunt album was a disappointment then this will please your symphonic heart. Just listen to the lovely "The Wind Will Rise" that is pure symphonic melodic hardrock and sounds so much of early Royal Hunt.
Another winner is the big sounding "Oh Harlequin" with brilliant melodies and harmonies. On "But You Were Smiling" Henrik Brockmann sounds alot like a young Ronnie James Dio, great stuff. "Badinerie" is an instrumental bonus track on this album. The semi-ballad "Deliver Us" is good and brings Malmsteens album from the late 80s and early 90s in mind. Mr. Brockmann sings very good and strong throughout the whole album and shows the good singer he is.
The album has been mixed by Steen Mogensen(Royal Hunt/Cornerstone) and produced by Henrik Flyman with great result. So if you´re into this symphonic stuff then I suggest you check out this solid album. Not sensational but still a very entertaining album.