Artist: Iron Mask
Title: Black As Death
Genre: Neoclassical Hard Rock/Metal
Release Date: 16th December 2011
Label: AFM Records
Album Review
The IRON MASK was founded by their guitarist Dushan Petrossi, now in its tenth year the fourth album ‘Black As Death’ is out with the new vocalist, Mark Boals (ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN). Petrossi’s other project (MAGIC KINGDOM) within a Symphonic metal can be slightly felt within the compositions amidst the Power and Neo-classical Metal IRON MASK plays, there are sensitivities for the other branch that give it a nice edge. There are few of the extras “spicing” the album as in the intro to ‘God Punishes, I Kill’ which starts choir-like and has some good moments on acoustic guitar; it’s one of the better songs here in general. ‘Genghis Khan’ is even introduced by Far Eastern music, which breaks into an epic. After almost a millennium since his death Genghis Khan has been transformed into the Charlemagne of the East lacking only a halo around his head.
Within vocals in the main body of the song they try to sustain the Mongolian folk flavour of the intro (and the outro) but there it sounds slightly ridiculous, however, it’s still a good, solid song. ’The Absence’ gets mentioned for its good catchiness. If you’re looking for a ballad, you’ll find it in ‘Magic Sky Requiem’, somehow it brings to my mind QUEEN with some nice organ sounds but is actually a rather disappointing song as it feels weak and lacks in genuine emotiveness ballads require. For the speedier tracks look to ‘Nosferatu’ and ‘Blizzard Of Doom’ especially. Their music gives some nods to BLIND GUARDIAN and DIO. The problem is that even with those extras sprinkled in for a good measure, it’s still Neo-classical & Power Metal by numbers. There’s nothing ground-shaking, neither exciting nor will it stick in one’s memory for longer than its play even if it’s well produced and well played.
Tracklist
01. From Light Into The Dark
02. Black As Death
03. Broken Hero
04. Feel The Fire
05. Genghis Khan
06. God Punishes, I Kill
07. Rebel Kid
08. Blizzard Of Doom
09. The Absence
10. Magic Sky Requiem
11. Nosferatu
12. When All Braves Fall
Line-up
Mark Boals – Vocals
Dushan Petrossi – Guitars
Vassili Moltchanov – Bass
Roma Siadletski – Vocals/Shouts
Mats Olausson – Keyboards
Ramy Ali – Drums
Websites
www.iron-mask.com
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6.5
Sound: 7
Total: 6.75 / 10
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