EVIL MASQUERADE “Pentagram” /CD/

The fifth full-length studio album by Swedish-Dutch Melodic Heavy/Power Metal band.
Evil Masquerade is a Scandinavian band founded 2003 in Copenhagen by Swedish guitarist Henrik Flyman (Lacrimosa, ex-Wuthering Heights, ex-Moahni Moahna, ex-ZooL). Together with drummer Dennis Buhl (ex-Hatesphere), bass player Kasper Gram and vocalist Henrik Brockmann (ex-Royal Hunt) they set off to record the band's debut album that was released early 2004 under the name "Welcome To The Show". It almost immediately received worldwide recognition and made the charts in Japan at # 8. One year later, it was followed up with their second album, "Theatrical Madness".
A new singer Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars, ex-Firewind, ex-Time Requiem) and bass player Thor Jeppesen entered the studio with Flyman and Buhl to record the album "Third Act". This album took the band to a new level of fame when it was re-released in 2007 in the USA, one year after the original release in Europe and Asia. The fourth studio album "Fade To Black" saw yet another change in the line-up, with only Henrik Flyman and Apollo Papathanasio remaining from the previous album. New members were drummer Daniel Flores (The Murder Of My Sweet, Mind’s Eye, Tears Of Anger, ZooL) and bass player Johan Niemann (Therion, Evergrey, Hubi Meisel, Demonoid, Mind’s Eye).
Flyman spent 2010 composing songs for the band's fifth album "Pentagram" that was released in May 2012. The recordings took place during 2011 and involved Flyman once again teaming up with the same members as on the band's third release: Papathanasio, Buhl and Jeppesen; together with the latest addition to the line-up, the band's first permanent keyboard player, Artur Meinild.
Songwriting and performances on "Pentagram" are significantly different from the prior albums. More specifically, the first few albums carried a melodic Euro Metal style, with Progressive hints and some Neoclassical influences, but "Pentagram" is a monster throwback to the early classic era of Metal. You can hear a lot of Dio, Sabbath, Deep Purple and Rainbow in the songs. It’s a striking difference, but an excellent collection.
One of the many highlights are the vocals of Apollo. His warm, full voice and impassioned delivery really bring back memories of when the singer voice had distinct qualities and singing ability, not just screaming. The twelve track album runs just over 40 minutes and the tempo is mid paced, leaning towards the slow side. The simple, elegant song construction allows individual performances' room to breath. It’s not a busy record full of orchestras, sound effects and dense layers by any means, it has a real stripped back early Metal vibe. Instead of a hundred riffs, Flyman picks some good ones and bolsters the songs with good choruses that are not too sickly sweet.
"Pentagram" is a great album, full of excellent songs and fine performances from Apollo, who never fails to impress.
High-quality traditional Metal for fans of Dio, Black Sabbath and Rainbow!
Dark Minstrel Music, 2012 (DMM201201). Made in Denmark. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Pentagram 4:12
2. A Silhouette 3:54
3. Perfect Disgrace 3:28
4. The Spirits Of The Dead 4:15
5. Moonlight Fantasy 3:04
6. Unholy Water 3:54
7. Pray For Mercy On Our Souls 3:34
8. Soul Taker 4:38
9. On A Bed Of Thorns 4:21
10. Strangers Might Fool Ya' 2:11
11. When The Fire Dies 3:33
12. The Golden Ratio 1:08
Total playing time: 42:12 min.