SLAVEMASON - SLAVEMASON
INDEPENDENT
Metal To Infinity
What
a beautiful intro! What a wonderful voice! Wow, this really blows me away, makes
me calm, gets all of my attention! This Epic touch delivers me cold shivers,
seldom I’ve heard such a mind blowing “Introduction”! And then Slavemason
starts to play the game and believe me only a few notes are necessary to find
out a masterpiece is heading my way. Who is Slavemason anyway? I’ve never
heard from it but I am astonished, fully concentrated and under the spell from
what I am witnessing… It seems Slavemason is a so called ‘one man band’.
Mister William Simpkins gives more than the impression being a multiple musician.
He’s even far beyond this notion because he’s a master in everything he’s
doing.
This
man is a fantastic singer and contains a unique voice! The capabilities he has
with his voice are immense, vocal sound and strength will make you listen with
eyes and ears wide shut! He’s an even more fantastic song writer and he’s a
great guitar player. I hear sharp and technical played riffs and the solo’s
are played on an emotional way! Darkness, melody and emotions are blended in a
very tasteful mix!
The
drum parts are very good and only for the bass guitars he used some help, from a
man called Joe Hoyle. Slavemason is an Epic True Heavy Metal album that fans of
bands like Crescent Shield will worship! Fans of the more Epic Iron Maiden
albums will also love what they hear, even old Queensryche, Jag Panzer, Fates
Warning or Iced Earth are at some points possibilities! Add a bit of Manilla
Road, maybe some Solitude Aeturnus, Candlemass, Virgin Steele or even a slice of
Savior Machine and you’ll have a clue what I am talking about. There aren’t
even any doubts in my mind Pink Floyd and other Seventies Progressive Rock bands
were influencing. Slavemason contains an obscure – yet clean – sound and the
front cover contains the same dark atmosphere. Talking about the production I
can tell you it sounds perfect!
This
is one of those surprising albums you’ll discover each year. The unknown band
that takes you by the throat, that ‘one shot’ album that took you by
surprise! From the beginning until the end Slavemason brings first class Metal
songs and this is a debut that deserves everybody’s attention! Not that
Slavemason delivers sophisticated tracks, Progressive elements, melody and power
are in a perfect balance. I discovered a range from heavy metal anthems to Doom
Metal monstrosities and progressive elegies! The tracks are varied, contains
surprising vocal lines, frequent temp changes and every detail of each song
sounds perfect. That obscure Seventies sound, the dark Eighties sound, the Epic
touches… all are present. The fact one man is for 80% responsible for it makes
it even more impressive! William Simpkins is an intelligent man, a musician
‘pur sang’, a creative mastermind!
It’s
hard to name what the best songs really are on this concept album. The chemistry
between this release and me worked right away! I adored tracks like “Zep Tepi”,
Drafted”, “Islands” and “The End”. Each track has its own mood, time
after time you’ll be surprised. Multiple listens will make you discover new
highlights. Purchase this masterpiece at http://www.slavemason.com/
or http://www.myspace.com/slavemasons.
The only thing I pity is that this album was official released last year, makes
it impossible to end in my year list…
My Points: 92 / 100 (Review by Officer Nice)