Review: Black Masquerade - Holy And Bright | |||||||
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Holy And Bright | |||||||
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Label: Triumph Records Year released: 2007 Duration: 48:23 Tracks: 10 Genre: Heavy/Power Metal Rating: 3.75/5 Review online: July 19, 2008 Reviewed by: Michel Renaud |
![]() for:Holy And Bright Rated 2/5 (40%) (1 Vote)
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Review | |||||||
It's been 4 years already since Black Masquerade's first album, Spread Your Wings. This album here takes the band further on the melodic Power Metal side of things, while still showing hints of traditional Heavy Metal - the 80s anthemic style mostly. Save for this little adjustment in style, Holy And Bright pretty much follows the same proven recipe as its predecessor - very positive-sounding music albeit occasionally with a (very) little melancholic side, a mix of Heavy/Power guitar riffing that's not too flamboyant but gets the job done. It's basic, no-frills "feel good" Power Metal that's not over the top in any way, shape or form. The vocalist does a good job, not trying to go past his comfortable range and not overdoing the higher notes, sticky to a sober style just like the music. "Follow Me" is notable for sticking out by being of a darker, more traditional Heavy Metal type of song. "Hell's Gate" on the other hand is more of the "fast Power Metal" style than the other Power songs on the album. Not much to complain about here, save for the album closer "Sanoramyun" - fine on the musical side of things, but the same thing is repeated over and over in the second half of the song and it's downright annoying. And to make matters worse, the damn thing gets stuck in your head as a result of all the repetition. It'd be skip-worthy if it wasn't for the first half which is OK. It is the only song on the album that's sung in Japanese, so it also has that going for it. There's also the instrumental "Silent Scene" which is a guitar/keyboards rendition of some classical piece whose name I just can't recall (could be an original, but it sounds pretty damn close to something I've heard before.) It's not bad, but in the context of the album it feels very odd. If you have to chose between the two albums, the first one is your best bet, but this one here is not all that far behind. |
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Other related information on the site | |||||||
Review: Spread Your Wings (reviewed by Michel Renaud) | |||||||
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