Subterranean Masquerade - Suspended Animation Dreams
	Released: 2005 Label: The End Records Cat. No.: TE055 Total Time:
	Reviewed by: Jan-Mikael Erakare, July 2005 Evaluation: What is it? The macabre Travis Smith artwork, albeit drawn in a crude hand-rendered style, provides a surreal backdrop for the equally tenebrific lyrics … standard fare for angst-ridden, moribund metal bands nowadays … at first glance Suspended Animation Dreams appears to be more of the same from The End Records… Analysis: What it is: This is genre-bending music of high caliber. There are progressive, art-rock elements reminiscent of 70s stalwarts like Elton John, The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, Genesis and their ilk, perpetuated primarily through the band's choice of instrumentation (sax, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, and acoustic piano feature prominently throughout the disc); a "light-jazz" feel permeates the arrangements. I found myself thinking of various musicals from the mid 70s and early 80s as I listened to some of the instrumental sections of the pieces. Guitars are subservient to the arrangements, but when they are featured they are used for maximum impact, usually accompanied by death grunts and black metal rasps … this is the only element of the disc that I think doesn't work, and seems disingenuous. The music shifts suddenly from the beatific to the beastly … disconcerting and disruptive to the flow of the songs. Acoustic instruments, cleverly arranged synth strings, acoustic instrumentation, choirs and a knock-out production by Neil Kernon make Suspended… a listener's haven amidst the current crop of deathly bands on The End Record's roster. Summary: Intriguing, and sure to be enjoyed by anyone with even an ounce of intelligence or regard for musical verisimilitude, Subterranean Masquerade have created a work that transcends rock boundaries and defies classification without sacrificing listenability. The only metal here is the fillings in Mr Kernon's teeth… Rating: 9-/10 [4.5/5] (the minus is for … you guessed it … those infantile, asinine growled vocals) More about Suspended Animation Dreams: Track Listing: Suspended Animation Dreams / Wolf Among Sheep / No Place Like Home / Kind Of A Blur / The Rock N Roll Preacher / Six Strings To Cover Fear / Awake / X Musicians: Jake Depolitte - guitar, bass Ben Warren - keyboards Steve Lyman – drums and percussion Brownwean Beecher - violin Susan Naud – vocals Willis Clow - guitar Contact: Website: www.submasq.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Temporary Psychotic State (ep) (2004) Suspended Animation Dreams (2005)
	[Review Index]  [Home]  [Top] © Copyright 2005 ProgressiveWorld.net/Jan-Mikael Erakare