Theatrical metal – that’s how the four Danes of EVIL MASQUERADE have chosen to name their particular brand of music, and they do manage to deliver solid evidence, that also in the country of red sausages, the will to experiment and take great different paths in music is as great as ever. Behind the microphone we have Henrik Brockmann (ex-Royal Hunt), the guitar is mastered by none other than Henrik Flyman (Moahni Moahna, Wuthering Heights), behind the drums sits a certain Dennis Buhl (Sinphonia), and the bass is taken care of the pretty unknown, but nonetheless talented, Kasper Gram (Wuthering Heights, Manticora). Add to that no less than four guest keyboarders, among them, for example, Richard Andersson of Time Requiem.

The music, then. It is a very varied mix of fast and slower passages. Musically we’re moving in power/heavy metal territory here, but a pretty large portion of neoclassicism should be added to that, as well. The way Henrik Flyman treats the guitar makes for the theatrical parts, ‘cause man, he handles the axe like an insane! The guy is professional through and through, and knows how to use the instrument with variation, unlike some people… You’ll get no names from me, however. (*cough* …Yngwie… *cough*). He knows how to riff, because there are great riffs there, during the vocal parts, but where he really shines is in the leads. The song material is very strong overall, but of course there are bound to be songs here that I like less too, but on the whole, the guys and their music have had a very positive effect on me. As I prefer my metal somewhat faster, songs like The Wind Will Rise and Surprises In The Dark are real grenades if you ask me. More of that in the future, please!

Other cool things include the voice of Henrik Brockmann, which has enough pathos to give the songs the strength and credibility they need, and the fact that the guys have mixed the occasional own interpretation of classical music into their compositions, the song Children Of The Light featuring small parts of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for example, whereas bonus track Badinerie is a more metallic remake of Bach’s composition with the same name. Crazy, and very cool!

Verdict: EVIL MASQUERADE are talented, and have great songs. Try them out – that’s an order!

Choice cuts: The Wind Will Rise, Surprises In The Dark, Children Of The Light, Lucy The Evil