Masterlast - Mastery Of Self

*=Staff's pick	I Ache* Wake Up Today On the Line* Think of the Day Whore Myself* Run Far From Me Monkeys Highmax Don't* Challenge You Shout Your Way Out

Genre	Industrial Metal	Lizza Hasan	Vocals
Tracks	11	Val Glauser	Guitar
Runningtime	46 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Escapi Music	William Valentine	Bass
Release	29 Sept. 2006	John Macaluso	Drums
Country	USA	C-Drike	Machines
Similar artists	Guano Apes, Nine Inch Nails

Masterlast is a relatively new band based in New York but the members is hailing from other parts of the world as well. The band is fronted by the two women in vocalist Lizza Hasan originally from Israel (Mahavatar) and Swiss lead-guitarist Val Glauser (ex-GSX). Also included in the ranks are the routined drummer John Macaluso that has merits from Artension, Ark, and Yngwie Malmsteen among others. Masterlast released an EP, Think Of The Day, by themselves in 2004 and now it is time for their full-length debut that is being released in Europe in September but not until February 2007 in the States.

From the little I have heard of the band Mahavatar this isn't miles away but Masterlast seem to be imposing so damn much more into their music. At a first glance Masterlast seem to have much in common with the band Guano Apes including catchy songs with occasional rap-oriented vocals. Although, this is basically greatly performed modern american metal that imposes many influences from many other places as well that spice up their music quite a bit. Not least with the industrial elements courtesy of C-Drike that give a futuristic touch to the album, and even if the label industrial is to be taken lightly on Masterlast there is more than one reference that could be made to Nine Inch Nails. I might be out of line here but isn't this being reminiscent of Marilyn Manson at times as well? I guess I will leave that unsaid but the thought crossed my mind for what it's worth.

Mastery Of Self is an easy album to take in with lots of catchy hooks but it is with all of the incorporated elements Masterlast separate themselves from the average. The influences can be traced to a sound hailing from european metal and with a middle eastern sound that embraces the album successfully at many times, not least with the occasionally chanting vocals. Incorporate some Rammstein riffing, some bare traces of nu-metal and on top of that a very rhythmic sound with tribal rhythms. Lizza Hasan on vocals displays some very dynamic singing and a huge span in her voice. She can sing with a clear melodic voice as well as she can spit out the words with a more guttural voice.

The album is very even, but there is one track that rises well above the rest, and you will have to watch out for the potential smash-hit in I Ache, damn that's one helluva great song. This song seems to have all of what Masterlast is about and every element or influence I mentioned is represented here, and if the winds blow in the right direction this could be a huge hit. There is an organic vibe on Mastery Of Self that makes this album feel very much alive despite its mechanical elements, in spite of taking each other out it creates a rhythmic energy that makes the debut from Masterlast most worthwhile.

See also: interview with Val Glauser »»

Production	Vocals	Compositions
8	8,5	7

Summary
7,5 chalices of 10 - Thomas