On disc: Mastercastle

 
 The Phoenix
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Last Desire
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Dangerous Diamonds
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 


 
 Dangerous Diamonds
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Dangerous Diamonds

(Lion Music - 2011)



 
 

 

This is the 3rd album of Italian outfit Mastercastle, a band which guitarist Pier Gonella brought to life. He hooked up with some great players - drummer Alesandro Bissa and bassist Steve Vawamas - and Georgia Gueglio completes the line-up. Musically Mastercastle offer melodic power metal with a dash of neo-classical guitar play and hard rock-tinged vocals.



They kick off with Another Flower, a catchy up-tempo rocker with fast but complex drumming and heavy riffing. After another powerful melodic metal tune they turn to a more hard rock-oriented sound with Time 4 Lovers, a song which gives Georgia Gueglio time to express her feelings while the band takes a step back. Personally I would like to have Georgia's vocals a bit more up front... For a moment - during the guitar solo - it seems that the guys want to head into a progressive part, but then they return to the 'main theme'. A riff-based rocker is Icy Moon, based on traditional heavy metal but spiced up with hard rock-ish vocals and another detour with the guitar into neo-classical metal. The tune is catchy and you might join in at the refrain after the first spin... The title track Dangerous Diamonds is a fast one with fast double bass drumming and that's something you rarely find in Mastercastle songs, but here they speed up. Another up-tempo one comes next, the riffing of Take Off reminds me of Accept... The instrumental Blue Diamond adds another flavor to the Dangerous Diamonds menu, the song offers Oriental elements, classic citation and modern sounds (distorted spoken words). But if you expect some technical frenzy, then you'll be disappointed. The guys show their skills but without getting lost in technical extravaganza. The slow Lovin' Me is a ballad with acoustic guitars - and some heavy riffs. It's not the kind of ballad which gives you goose bumps, but nicely done. Then they storm off for Sixth Sun, but they offer some break downs. The closer is Bitter & Sweet, based on a heavy groove they present another mid-paced rocker with Georgia's soaring vocals.



Some might need time to get into Mastercastle, coz Georgia's vocals seems to be more suitable for hard rock tunes, but at the end it gives the Mastercastle songs a different flavor. They aren't just another melodic metal band or whatever you wanna call their sound. Personally I dig her vocals and I'm looking forward to hear more of Mastercastle.

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Dangerous Diamonds

(Lion Music - 2011)



 
 

 

The Italian quartet has exists since 2008 and comes with their 3rd album. So far so good, but it is a story about a band who is fighting their way up and trying to make a breakthrough. Their music is completely dominated by guitarist Pier Gonella and it's almost like he has to guitarize everything, leaving no room for other musical aspects from the band. The vocals peers though from behind and bass and drums are there of course, but put so much in the background that it's a wonder what they contribute with. Another Flower is sure melodic and powerful but nothing more, just standard metal that can not bring them any closer to a breakthrough. Blue Diamond is instrumental, guitars of course, Icy Moon has the heavy well-structured song building but gets soaked totally by Gonella's overdone guitar work. Sixth Sun is one of the better songs where they show the heavy spirits of the band and finds the good teamwork, but still only between guitars and vocals. A new band like Mastercastle should focus more on giving a unison performance instead of focusing all energy on founder Pier Gonella. It works for other bands but Mastercastle still needs to improve on their musical style if they really want to make a difference. Right now they swim around in the same sea as many others who struggle to come up and breathe for air.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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Last Desire

(Lion Music - 2010)



 
 

 

Last year guitarist Pier Gonella and his mates presented Mastercastle's debut album The Phoenix. Now they are back with Last Desire. There haven't been any line-up changes, so let's see, what they have to offer this time!



The opener Event Horizon is an up-tempo rocker with catchy hook. Giorgia Gueglio's powerful voice stays on top, never drowns in the music. Gonella adds some shred parts, but it's only an element and not dominating the song. Misr is a heavy rocker with Oriental sounds woven in. Giorgia partly reminds me of Cristina Scabbia... The riffing at Wild Spell seems to be influenced by Judas Priest, while the vocal line is a bit The Gathering-like - and so builds a nice contrast. The lead guitar is adding a hard rock flair while the up-tempo tune is more based in melodic metal. More powerful, heavier is the title track Last Desire. Some will complain that the vocals are too much up-front, but if I would have to choose between a bit too much up-front or almost drowning, then I'll go for up-front! At Last Desire guitarist Pier Gonella finds space to show off his skills - without overdoing it. The instrumental Space Trip gives the guitarist the chance to shine. I'm not really a fan of instrumental music and I'll never be, anyway it's well done. With Jade Star a balladesque tune should follow and Georgia reminds me even more of Anneke van Giersbergen. A decent tune. Time to speed up again! The fast Great Heaven's Climb is a riff-based power metal tune, somehow the vocals don't work for me at this one... More a matter of taste. Cat-House is not as fast or heavy. Interesting riffing - and vocals fit very well here. With La Serenissima they have another instrumental on Last Desire, this time a cover version of Rondo Veneziano. Personally I like it, but would have switched position with Space Trip.



At Last Desire the Italian foursome is offering a large variety of sounds without losing the listener, coz the songs don't differ too much. The instrumental Space Trip some might skip and I think it would have been better placed at the end... But again that's more a matter of taste. Check out Mastercastle at their MySpace!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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The Phoenix

(Lion Music - 2009)



 
 

 

Mastercastle was founded in January 2008 when guitarist Pier Gonella and singer Giorgia Gueglio decided to join forces again. The two already worked together and were now up to start something new. At that time they haven't been focused on one genre, but with drummer Alessandro Bissa (Vision Divine) joining in the direction they will took, took shape. Metal fans will know Pier Gonella as the guitarist of Labyrinth and Necrodeath, and so will know what to expect.



The kick off with drums and heavy riffs - Words Are Swords - and then Giorgia joins in. The Italians present a heavy up-tempo rocker with neo-classical guitar elements, razor-sharp riffing and the great voice of Giorgia. Somehow her voice reminds me of someone, but I can't fathom it - and it doesn't matter! To make the song more interesting they include slower passages. A good choice to open up, coz Words Are Swords present Mastercastle's sound quite well. A bit Heart-ish Georgia heads into Princess Of Love, a balladesque rocker with a soaring melody. Reminds me a bit of The Gathering... This one will enchant you! A fast catchy one is Space which is followed by My Screams - another up-tempo tune. But My Screams is different, the opening riffs will make you think of Judas Priest, but then it becomes an excursion into neo-classical metal. Instead speeding though the passages Pier shows technically parts with feeling. The guitar takes over the vocal line, but then they return to a part with heavy riffing - for awhile. An instrumental tune which isn't just interesting for guitarists! With Lullaby Noir Giorgia is back! In the beginning only vocals and guitar, but after about a minute the others join in and the song becomes an epic powerful balladesque tune. With sharp heavy riffs they head into the fast title track The Phoenix! A good track to check out Mastercastle, even if it ain't shows the whole spectrum of their sound... Again Pier Gonella shows his skills, but the playground is delivered by the rhythm section - bassist Steve Vawamas and drummer Alessandro Bissa. Giorgia's lyrics at The Phoenix are about the human nature which needs to be strong and sometimes has to arise from the ashes like a phoenix. At Greedy Blade she talks about a disaster in the Italian Alps, about the Vajont dam - and what greed can lead to. The track is mid-paced and they introduce some new elements to their sound... some electronic sounds and spoken words - like listening to a news cast about the disaster. Another fast one which opening reminds me of Judas Priest is Dawn of Promises, but Giorgia's vocals take off the edge a bit... A slow one is Memories and like some memories this one has a sad, melancholy note. This time the instrumental can hook me up, but that's again a matter of taste, coz the tune is well done. The closer is called Cradle Of Stone and is a stomping rocker with heavy riffs, but for a moment they slow down...



Mastercastle offer on their debut album The Phoenix songs which are melodic, powerful metal with neo-classical elements. What makes them differ from others isn't just the voice of Giorgia Gueglio, they also offer different speed and add other sounds when needed. Check out: The Phoenix, Space and Princess Of Love.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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