The second output from REQUIEM. Now with the keyboarder of Sonata Arctica (according to the promo sheet, fact is that he didn't become a member of Stratovarius' kid brothers until after the first REQUIEM album). Positive surprise: The album is a lot speedier than the debut. Add to that a big chunk of neo-classicism and some progressiveness. Cool mix, but nothing new. The sound is crystal clear (the Finns strike again!) and the guys know very well how to handle their instruments. Fast leads mixed with furious drumming, and on top of that, floats the voice of Jouni Nikula, who sings a lot less operatic this time. Sadly though, it seems that the Finns are always going to have problems with the pronunciation of certain English words... OK, it isn't that bothering, but when the rest blasts so flawlessly from the speakers...
Mask Of Damnation was recorded together with Nino Laurenne (Thunderstone) in his Sonic Pump Studios, and as usual Mika Jussila of Finnvox did the mastering. Sadly, there are only eight songs on the album, which upsets me somehow. The songs are good, no question, but this trend with less and less songs on the albums is kind of shitty, if you ask me. Well, I guess I have to be content with exactly 42 minutes of music this time. Good then, that most of the songs are of such high quality. Following speed attacks like Blinded and The Dying Ember, both featuring very nice vocal lines, the slower Mask Of Damnation, follows, in part boasting some progressive influences. The beginning of Divine Illusion has some of the coolest leads on the album, while the larger part of the rest of the album has a sadder and more melancholic approach, which brings diversity to the whole. A job well done, I'd say, but next time I want more songs!