Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
The Red Masque - Victoria And The Haruspex CD (album) cover

VICTORIA AND THE HARUSPEX

The Red Masque

RIO/Avant-Prog


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Bookmark and Share
Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars The Red Masque's first full-length album is dominated by the 24 minute epic Haruspex, a twisted music box journey into the Red Masque's wild RIO territory. To be honest, I think the band here were trying to run before they could walk; as opposed to being a packed and tightly composed and cohesive piece which really merits its long running time, Haruspex ends up devolving into jazzy jamming in an embarrassing "I hope you like our new direction" Spinal Tap sort of way in its midsection. The album is somewhat salvaged by the sorter tracks, but I still think this is a step down from the very promising debut EP.
Report this review (#655527)
Posted Monday, March 12, 2012 | Review Permalink
apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
1 stars The Red Masque's activity would expand also in organizing music events entering year 2002 and one of these was the Philadelphia Underground Music and Culture Festival.The same year Kevin Kelly would leave his place to drummer Brian Van Korn (aka Vonorn) with the band recording the first-full length album during the spring 2002 at The Underground Studio in Philly.The title would be ''Victoria and the Haruspex''.

''Haruspex'', which is the centerpiece of the album with a running time over 24 minutes, refers to the ancient method by a person trained to practice a form of divination called haruspicy, but stylistically it is not close to what you should imagine The Red Masque would developed to.This one borders between experimental forms and loose structures, based on guitar dissonances, sinister drumming, low-key moments and KING CRIMSON-ian experimentations, including vintage keyboards, dark chord scratching, dreamy synths, electronic or instrumental, distorted manifests and haunting female voices by Lynnette Shelley.Nowhere near to what the band offered in the previous EP and practically directionless with a mood towards abstract music palettes.With ''Birdbrain'' things will be back on track for a nice seminar of old and modern prog sounds, this is good female-fronted Prog Rock with occasional keyboard flashes and slightly symphonic undertones, while the changes in tempos are present and eventually some nice melodic guitar lines will sit next to Shelley's deep voice.The next two tracks, ''Afterloss'' and ''Cenotaph'', are primarly acoustic-oriented numbers with a minimalistic atmosphere and lots of harp lines, ending up to be rather boring and monotonous with only a good performance by Shelley on vocals.The second of these cuts was dedicated to Nathan-Andrew Dewin's brother Alan.

I think The Red Masque were unfair to themselves with such a release, because the talent is there.''Victoria and the Haruspex'' is more likely to please fans of Experimental Rock and Acoustic Music than any Prog Rock fan.One decent piece over a running time of 48 minutes is not enough to save this work...1.5 stars.

Report this review (#1227658)
Posted Friday, August 1, 2014 | Review Permalink

THE RED MASQUE Victoria And The Haruspex ratings only


chronological order | showing rating only

Post a review of THE RED MASQUE Victoria And The Haruspex


You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.