(Power/Speed Metal) [CD] Masters of Disguise - Back with a Vengeance - 2013, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Bonus Video - For Now and All Time (Knutson’s Return)

Размер: 97.6 МБ
Тип: MPEG-4
Продолжительность: 00:05:47

----- Видео -----
Ширина кадра: 640
Высота кадра: 360
Скорость потока: 2198 кбит в секунду
Частoта кадров: 25 кадров в секунду

----- Аудио -----
Битрейт: 157 кбит в сек. (Variable)
Каналы: 2 (стерео)
Частота дискретизации: 44.1 кГц

...but I wouldn't dream of leaving anyway, because this album is fantastic.

Some people might write Masters of Disguise off as an unremarkable Savage Grace clone, but they would be making a terrible mistake. Yes, the band name, logo and imagery (well, mostly Knutson) are all in tribute to Savage Grace (the instrumental part of this band was the touring line-up for Savage Grace back in '09-'10, for those unaware), but musically they fill the musical gap which Savage Grace left behind them. Like both Savage Grace albums before it, Back With A Vengeance is a blazing heavy/speed metal album filled with genuinely original material (well, other than the cover and The Templars' Gold, but more on that later).

So four of these guys are already accustomed to playing Savage Grace-type music, but what about the singer? Alex Stahl is actually a phenomenal vocalist. His singing is very passionate and animated, which is pretty much a must with music like this. His charismatic delivery definitely helps push this album from 'good' to 'great' (may our children forgive us FOR OUR SACRIFIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE). With the (deserved) heaps of praise I'm bestowing on Alex, it's important we don't lose sight of Kalli Coldsmith and Roger Dequis because they seem to have and endless supply of amazing riffs. Whether it's a full-speed assault like For Now And All Time or something a little more mid-tempo like Liar, every song is written perfectly and sounds, production aside, like it could've been released in 1984.

Back With A Vengeance has 9 full songs (the title 'track' is more of a shirt intro, like Lions Roar was), 7 of which are originals. Sceptres of Deceit is a Savage Grace song. As far as I know it was only released on their 1982 demo and the second Metal Massacre compilation, and I have to say, it's an extremely well-done cover that's properly incorporated and fits very well with the rest of the album. The Templars' Gold was written by Savage Grace's Chris Logue (back in 2010 I think? I read something like that anyway). It was never released (or even played live as far as I know) by Savage Grace, so we get to hear it on Back With A Vengeance For The First time, and much like most of Savage Grace's work, it's a great song, and a perfect closer.

As for the 7 originals, most of them are high-tempo speed metal bangers (with Never Surrender and For Now And All Time being my favourites) and they are pretty much all amazing. Even the more mid-tempo songs (Alliance and Liar, mostly) are done pretty well. Alliance is especially cool, with some really nifty vocal melodies during the verses that culminate in a great chorus. Liar kind of reminds me of Savage Grace's Betrayer, in that they're both the slowest (or in these cases, least fast) songs on the albums, their lyrical themes are pretty similar and they're both my least favourite tracks on their respective albums. Of course, that says more about the quality of the album than of the song, because Liar is still a more than solid song.

So basically, if you liked Savage Grace, there's no reason you wouldn't dig the hell out of this. And even if you've heard either, any fan of Iron Maiden and uspm bands like Omen and Liege Lord will find something to like here. One of my favourite albums to come out in 2013, and the start of a very promising career.

Review written by super_ruben09 for www.metal-archives.com

Alexx Stahl - Vocals
Mario Lang - Bass
Neudi - Drums
Roger Dequis - Guitars
Kalli Coldsmith - Guitars