Subterranean Masquerade
The Great Bazaar
Taklit Music
2015
Is that a comeback of a band that’s been on ice for a decade? Well more or less. Only two original members exist in the new line-up, the guitarist & songwriter Tomer Pink and the vocalist Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom). The new members are: Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation, Tristania) on (clean) vocals, Matan Shmuely (Orphaned Land) on drums, Or Shalev on guitars, Shai Yallin on keyboards and Golan Farhi on bass.
I guess if it weren’t for the name this could have been regarded as a totally “new” act. Certainly the musical bridges with the first album “Suspended Animation Dreams” still exist, even though Subterranean Masquerade’s music has now become somewhat more refined and melodious in a way. Additionally, the new singer and the numerous eastern/ethic elements along with the 70s/80s prog rock features have crafted the renewed Subterranean Masquerade sound. Some very motivating “jams” can be found here and there but the guys have focused more on the atmospheric, melodious and artistic side of prog rock/metal music now. Of course the brutal vocals & the metal parts are there to remind us of the band’s (doom) metal roots. The production is fresh and full – following the recipe of today’s sound without deliberately becoming “retro” just for the sake of it.
“The great Bazaar” is a concept album which talks about a man leaving home to find what’s important in life and a dialog between the so called “Good” and “Evil”. The orchestrations are very smart and well-done. The tracks are not long just to be progy/whatever but they cut right to the chase. The melodies are wonderful and memorable too. The atmospheric prog rock themes are blending nicely with the ethnic and the metal elements. With every new listen you will “discover” new things on every track. The instrumental track “Nigen” has quite some Greek ethic passages especially due to the use of clarinet. Moreover, on the last track, the more Floydish, “Father and Son”, the Orphaned Land singer Kobi Farhi is participating as well. This is the longest track of the album and one of my favorites as it blends various styles together very artistically.
“The Great Bazaar” puts Subterranean Masquerade back on the prog rock/metal scene and gives em the apt boost they need so as to cover all the lost ground over the last decade. Do not overlook it, especially if you revel in ethnic, middle-eastern prog rock/metal music…
I guess if it weren’t for the name this could have been regarded as a totally “new” act. Certainly the musical bridges with the first album “Suspended Animation Dreams” still exist, even though Subterranean Masquerade’s music has now become somewhat more refined and melodious in a way. Additionally, the new singer and the numerous eastern/ethic elements along with the 70s/80s prog rock features have crafted the renewed Subterranean Masquerade sound. Some very motivating “jams” can be found here and there but the guys have focused more on the atmospheric, melodious and artistic side of prog rock/metal music now. Of course the brutal vocals & the metal parts are there to remind us of the band’s (doom) metal roots. The production is fresh and full – following the recipe of today’s sound without deliberately becoming “retro” just for the sake of it.
“The great Bazaar” is a concept album which talks about a man leaving home to find what’s important in life and a dialog between the so called “Good” and “Evil”. The orchestrations are very smart and well-done. The tracks are not long just to be progy/whatever but they cut right to the chase. The melodies are wonderful and memorable too. The atmospheric prog rock themes are blending nicely with the ethnic and the metal elements. With every new listen you will “discover” new things on every track. The instrumental track “Nigen” has quite some Greek ethic passages especially due to the use of clarinet. Moreover, on the last track, the more Floydish, “Father and Son”, the Orphaned Land singer Kobi Farhi is participating as well. This is the longest track of the album and one of my favorites as it blends various styles together very artistically.
“The Great Bazaar” puts Subterranean Masquerade back on the prog rock/metal scene and gives em the apt boost they need so as to cover all the lost ground over the last decade. Do not overlook it, especially if you revel in ethnic, middle-eastern prog rock/metal music…