Evil Masquerade - The Digital Crucifix
Dark Minstrel Music, 2014
1. Like Voodoo
2. Buying Salvation
3. The Extra Mile
4. The Shame
5. The Nature Is Calling
6. Bad News
7. The Hangover
8. Anywhere The Wind Blows
9. Lady Of The Night
10. Gasoline & Ice Cold Gin
11. Sign Of The Times
Evil Masquerade has always been a bit of an enigma in the realms of heavy metal. Their imagery is very dark and almost evil for the most part, yet their music is very poppy and melodious. For most first time listeners I think this combination can be pretty off-putting, but for the ones that "get it", it works on several levels as it is at both times familiar yet very fresh and different at the same time. I count myself in the latter category.
Now with new vocalist Tobias Jansson (of Angel Black and several other bands) in tow, Evil Masquerade have forged on with their sixth full length CD and on the surface it is more of the same combination of darkness and hook-laden melody that we would expect from the band. Henrik Flyman is still the mastermind of this insanity and he still has a penchant for writing some really good tunes, though I don't think this is his best work overall, it is still a very enjoyable CD. Combine this with Jansson's vocals and you have a pretty nifty little release here. The first time I heard lead single Like Voodoo I was not totally blown away. The second time I heard it, I was starting to dig it a bit more and with each successive listen I got into it more and more. It's just one of those songs that takes a bit to grown on you.
Interestingly that is a microcosm of the entire album because each time I hear Buying Salvation, The Extra Mile, The Nature Is Calling, Lady Of The Night or Gasoline & Ice Cold Gin for example I hear more and more nuances that I missed before; I do believe Henrik Flyman is becoming a crafty little bugger with his song writing. The subtleties are nice to discover.
Evil Masquerade continue to put out one solid release after another and just sit on the cusp of something special. They have the hooks, the melodies, the intrigue and the musicianship all down pat.
\m/ 8.5 \m/
1. Like Voodoo
2. Buying Salvation
3. The Extra Mile
4. The Shame
5. The Nature Is Calling
6. Bad News
7. The Hangover
8. Anywhere The Wind Blows
9. Lady Of The Night
10. Gasoline & Ice Cold Gin
11. Sign Of The Times
Evil Masquerade has always been a bit of an enigma in the realms of heavy metal. Their imagery is very dark and almost evil for the most part, yet their music is very poppy and melodious. For most first time listeners I think this combination can be pretty off-putting, but for the ones that "get it", it works on several levels as it is at both times familiar yet very fresh and different at the same time. I count myself in the latter category.
Now with new vocalist Tobias Jansson (of Angel Black and several other bands) in tow, Evil Masquerade have forged on with their sixth full length CD and on the surface it is more of the same combination of darkness and hook-laden melody that we would expect from the band. Henrik Flyman is still the mastermind of this insanity and he still has a penchant for writing some really good tunes, though I don't think this is his best work overall, it is still a very enjoyable CD. Combine this with Jansson's vocals and you have a pretty nifty little release here. The first time I heard lead single Like Voodoo I was not totally blown away. The second time I heard it, I was starting to dig it a bit more and with each successive listen I got into it more and more. It's just one of those songs that takes a bit to grown on you.
Interestingly that is a microcosm of the entire album because each time I hear Buying Salvation, The Extra Mile, The Nature Is Calling, Lady Of The Night or Gasoline & Ice Cold Gin for example I hear more and more nuances that I missed before; I do believe Henrik Flyman is becoming a crafty little bugger with his song writing. The subtleties are nice to discover.
Evil Masquerade continue to put out one solid release after another and just sit on the cusp of something special. They have the hooks, the melodies, the intrigue and the musicianship all down pat.
\m/ 8.5 \m/