DEATH OF THE RED MASQUE

The Red Masque are a spooky RIO band in the tradition of Univers Zero, who put their own unique spin on that band's complex chamber prog sound by including a talented female vocalist (Lynette Shelley) and including the odd musical influence from the likes of mid-1970s King Crimson and just the lightest sprinkling of more melodic symphonic prog influences to make things a bit more approachable. As well as providing a clever rearrangement of the name of a famous Edgar Allen Poe story, The Death of the Red Masque also offers just over half an hour of the band's intense musical vision. Props have to go to bassist Brandon Ross, whose highly technical playing makes him an important presence in the mix.