| CD REVIEW Slavemason |
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Band : Slavemason Songwise, Slavemason aka William Simpkins (vocals, guitars, keys, drums) and Joe Hoyle (bass) follow a manic and vicious path of melodic riffing and high pitched singing, with a few hints of keyboards here and there. The music is Heir Apparent/ Queensryche/ Crimson Glory tinted heavy metal with a dark, doomy Candlemass edge to it. There are chops and shreds aplenty with lots of added frills throughout the songs. All the tracks on the debut Slavemasonare of normal length (4-7 min), and while they contain fantastic tight playing, time changes and groovy arrangements, they also contain real hooks and melodic choruses. They're not just carbon copies of tunes you've heard elsewhere, they're different, unique and instantly involving. Simpkins’ versatility shines through on every track and he is able to pull each song off without sounding like any. And top of this all, Simpkins has a voice to rival any, and he oozes passion from every pore. Heavily overloaded sweeping rhythms; fantastic, scorching guitar work relying on fast paced, yet imaginative enough drumming; “Zep Tepi”, “Slavemason” with a “Battle Hymn”-prelude , “Islands” with Joe Hoyle in a lead roleand the closing Helloween-like song with the appropriate title “The end” have it all.. This is a hugely enjoyable slab of US power metal done with plenty of class and a fair amount of originality. 93/100 Cosmicmasseur. |