MASQUERADE SHOW

Masquerade Show is the third album from Sweden's Maze Of Time who released their debut Tales From The Maze in 2006. It's my first encounter with the band so I'm unable to compare this against previous releases but having formed in 2001 they've had plenty of time to develop their craft and become a competent, though it has to be said, not particularly exciting band.

That's not to say Masquerade Show is a bad album, far from it. Though it lacks originality the band are all decent players and turn in a few memorable moments such as instrumental Dark Matter, Predator (a few more displaying the melodic finesse of this and we could have been onto a winner) and Mountain Of Madness. On the ten composition's Maze Of Time's sound is symphonic/neo prog with quite a bit of heavy prog which sometimes enters metal territory. While the band have a grasp of putting together convincing composition's with the requisite twists and turns and dynamics required of your average prog band the weak vocals, lack of strong melodies and ear pricking instrumental workout's is likely to leave Masquerade Show largely forgotten and undiscovered by all but the few. 2 ½ stars.

Their lates album to date released in 2012 named Masquerade show is well, I have to say it , much much less intresting then their previous two albums and much much mediocre then their almost masterpiece Lullaby for heroes. I simply can't recognize Maze of Time with this album, such mediocre songwritting, a more rockier aproach to their music then before. The vocal lines are good, as I said Jasper Landed is a very talented vocalist who really know to juggling with his voice and to made even from the most unintresting tune a fairly decent one. No piece is better then other, all are quite same in level. Disappointed for sure with Masquerade show, I've never expected that Maze of Time will make such forgetable release after the amazing Lullaby. Sad, if the next album will sound like this one, then I'll forget about them and stuck only with their first two albums. Hardly 3 stars, more like 2.5, the good momements are only sporadicaly.

Maze Of Time is a Swedish band that has been together since 2001 and that has Robert I Edman (guitars and vocals), Jesper Land'n (vocals), Jan Persson (bass), Alex Jonsson (keyboards) and Thomas Nordh (drums) in its line-up. In Masquerade Show (2012) they also had help of Bj'rn 'hman with backing vocals.

Masquerade Show (2012) is the band's third album, all of which had been released on Art Performance Production label. Masquerade Show (2012) is my first contact with this Swedish band and right in the beginning we can see that this will be a really interesting Heavy Prog/Symphonic album. After a short intro called '3-angle' we have this epic, 10'37 minutes long track 'Masquerade Show' that gives the album its title. There are so many twisting and turnings on this songs that it's almost impossible to name them all. Just brilliant!

Now, a great opening track and a downhill after that is very common on many records, but I can honestly say that it's not Maze Of Time's case! Next track 'Pandora's Box' is even better! There's a good melody for you to sing along, there's the catchy chorus, there are numerous backing vocals and on top of that a tight instrumental. Second great track in a row! The follow up there is the instrumental 'Dark Matter'. This one is a bit more Space Rock, more room between the notes, less heaviness on the guitars in general but still keeps rocking till the end.

'Mile By Mile' gives continuity to the slower tempo tracks. Basically a ballad that made me think of a mix between Queensryche and Iron Maiden!?! Now, the next track 'Mountain Of Madness' is an incredible adaptation of the novel of the same name written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1936. Heavy, full of twists and really interesting. After a nice piano ballad ('Next Morning') we have a very climatic and somber track named 'Mean Messiah Man Machine'. What helps it to be so gloomy is the low bottom of the band with Jan Persson's bass lines, fat and groovy! 'Predator' is the next track, it begins with an eastern melody full of wha-wha pedal effects and soon it turns out to be really weird (in a good way) and nice track with some strange chords in the verse but with a chorus you can sing together with.

'Humanoid' was the song chosen by the band to close Masquerade Show (2012). This isn't a bad song but it isn't the strongest one as well. Despite having great verses I find the chorus too plain and not very interesting.

All in all, Masquerade Show (2012) is such a great surprise! All along the album Maze Of Time shows us an astonishing writing skill with a terrific production and musicianship. This is an album that will please any Heavy Prog ears for sure! Very recommended!

(Originally posted on progshine.net)