MASQUERADE

Without any expectations whatsoever, I entered their world.

And what a strange brew I got in my hands. They are listed as eclectic prog and Black Widow is their label. So it must be a dark brew then. Not quite. What Goad has come up with here is a mix of commercial American stadium rock, AOR, RPI, stoner rock aka Black Sabbath, eclectic and symphonic prog. A mix of Journey, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Black Widow and Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso in other words. An eclectic mix, to say at least. I am really having problems getting my head around this mix, I have to say. I gladly admit my jaw was on the floor during the first listening session.

Unfortunate, the band does not come up with the great songs this style of music require. The music ticks over very nicely, thank you. The vocals is excellent. The same can be said about the rest of the band which lays down a nice soundscape filled with organic tangents, electric guitars, bass and drums. This is by all means a very good album, but the dot over the i is missing and so is any real great songs. But I want to hear more from this band on the basis of this album.

3 stars