Mastercastle - Last Desire |
Published July 29 2010
|
|
|
Event Horizon* |
| Genre | Traditional Metal |
Giorgia Gueglio
|
Vocals
|
| Tracks | 12 |
Pier Gonella
|
Guitar
|
| Runningtime | 55 Min. |
-
|
Guitar
|
| Label | Lion Music |
Steve Vawamas
|
Bass
|
| Release | 18 June 2010 |
Alessandro Bissa
|
Drums
|
| Country | Italy |
-
|
Keyboard
|
| Producer | Pier Gonella | ||
| Similar artists | Shadowside, Edenbridge, Sacrilege (UK) | ||
Have you noticed that in a world of female fronted Symphonic, Gothic, and Death Metal acts, too many femme fatale bands all blend together? I used to support artists like Magica and Edenbridge, but their latest few efforts really do not shine. Hearing the new Mastercastle album is a refreshing break. Here is a band that does not need to rely on orchestration, operatic measures, or harsh vocals. There is just the common, yet enchantingly beautiful voice of Giogia Gueglio present and persuasive.
I appreciate a female voice that is clean without a gruff edge. This makes it much easier to understand. I respect artists like In This Moment, but Maria Brink's vocals can be rather tedious. This Italian Power Metal band embrace the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal vibe that I so miss from the '80s. I am so grateful that Traditional Metal is making such a worthy comeback!
Honestly, I have nothing against these various varieties of female fronted music. I am a fan of Epica, ReVamp, Leaves' Eyes, Benedictum, and Sister Sin. I adore the woman of war - Hysterica, and I am an advocate for Crystal Viper, and now Marta Gabriel 's new project Börn Again. I support Crucified Barbara, Black Widow USA, Shadowside, and Bitchfire. It is just inspiring to hear something a bit different, even if not too original. Then again these days what essentially is?
The sophomore album 'Last Desire' is rife with rib splayin', catchy riffs. The mind broadening, opening track "Event Horizon" hooks you, and lures you inside the maze. This sensation keeps you going through "Misr", a stand-out song with corybantic Eastern vibes, where if you listen carefully, you will even hear Giorgia ululate.
A wicked piece like "Wild Spell" will have you escape from within on a mind odyssey journey through flotsam and jetsam. This searing cut, and the title track, both begin with great guitar work, personified by Pier Gonella, who also produced this album.
Giogia endeavoured to write the lyrics for every song expanding upon the concept of "desire" as her theme. This is why the following track "Away" simply suggests her passion and frustration, while allowing for some material bliss. This becomes evidenced by the slower parts, and epic time changes, which permeate all throughout.
"Jade Star" is the album's obligatory ballad. It is is very atmospheric, and somewhat dreary, but really not too bad at all. Hell, I am a chick, and I grew up listening to sappy ballads. An eponymous track like "Great Heaven's Climb" scales the summit, and immediately builds up with momentum, a necessity for the listener, who may have grown tired with the weepy malaise. Is it the "battle" or the "bottle" which is lost, hmmnnn I wonder? This is a really fast paced piece, like the phoenix rizing.
This, then smoothly transitions into the freakish, but fleshed out - "Cat-House" - a hovel of lust and intoxication, stripped down and raw to the bone. This turbid view of dualism examines the conscience both of the man who receives paid for pleasure, and the woman servicing his desire.
I do not quite get the song "Toxie Radd". Is this some sort of Toxic Avenger of Troma's desire? Someone call Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.! Musically, I did not really dig this mawkish treacle either, with its modern guitar tone. It reminds me of the direction which Labyrinth were heading in with the deplorable 'Freeman', an album which songwriter Pier Gonella did participate. Thankfully the new Labyrinth album 'Return To Heaven Denied Pt.II: A Midnight Autumn's Dream' is a remarkable comeback, and their best in almost a decade!
The last track "Scarlett", is about, you guessed it, the leading lady in "Gone With The Wind". Sometimes with all these errie inhibitions, and spacey vibes, I feel like I am listening to Lynda "Tam" Simpson from Sacrilege (UK), who just released some of their old demos. I would love to hear that album: 'Reaping the Demo(n)s'. This effect is evidenced when you take in to consideration some of the rough pronunciations, and sublime subject matter.
The appropriately titled "Space Trip" and "La Serenissima" are the two instrumentals on the album, which really show Pier's versatility as a metal guitarist. Although, the complex genre associations of all the bands which he has been in should ultimately speak for themselves.
He mailed me this CD, with a press sheet which included the various bands of whom he has participated. There is the deathrash act Necrodeath, who are due to release a cool album of thrash covers called 'Old Skuul', then there is his work with the Symphonic Odyssea, and his accomplishments with the aforementioned Labyrinth, and even Wild Steel, for those who prefer the strange and beautiful renderings of Crimson Glory.
Listening to "Space Trip" is just a lot of fun and, well, just kinda' spacey. There is a tremendous amount of variation with the music in general. This reminds me of Arjen Anthony Lucassen's work with Ayreon. Pier seems to be a solid blend of the ambitious tenacity of Steve Vai, and the inward burning freedom found with the American rock ways of Jack Starr. "La Serenissima" is a cover of the Jazzy/Classical piece "Rondo Venezia", slightly rearranged for the guitar. Like with Rhapsody, this adds some strings to the theory, and fluid to the gears.
'Last Desire' overall is an excellent second album. I
have not heard their debut, which I have come to understand employed
a lot of the Neo-classical elements. This album is more straight forward
with an almost '70s rocking sound. It reminds me of the direction Shadowside
are heading in. I feel that Pier has done an excellent job with the
songwriting, and Giorgia has truly added the female vamp and vim with
her feminine touch, lyrically. The combination of the two personas embodies
the passion that once existed with Nightwish, Edenbridge, or Within
Temptation, nigh almost a decade past.
|
Performance
|
Originality
|
Production
|
Vocals
|
Songwriting
|
|
7,5 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Summary
|
||||
|
7,5 chalices of 10 - Wendy the MettleMaiden |
||||
|
Related links: |
 |