MASTERCASTLE – Wine Of Heaven (2017)
One of the most prolific bands from the current metal scene, MASTERCASTLE are back with anew album to be released tomorrow titled “Wine Of Heaven“. It marks a new horizon for the band, as mostly their neo-clasical metal from their previous works is dropped in favor of a classic, traditional melodic metal sound with little progressive touch.
And I really like this change.
Mastercastle’s music centers around three prominent things; Ms. Giorgia Gueglio powerful but melodious vocals, Pier Gonella (Necrodeath, ex-Labyrinth) strong guitar lines in riffage and solos, and, and both musicians fine songwriting.
As female vocalist, Gueglio is a traditional hard rock / metal singer in the old-school fashion. Her vocal style allows her voice to both lead and follow the melodic lines of the song arrangements.
For Gonella’s guitar style, while in the larger context the man is formed in the neo-classical style, you will find both his riffs and leads creative, varied, always at the service of the song – and so, satisfying.
There’s a welcomed modern-tuned feeling to his riffs in some songs such as ‘Drink Of Me’ and title track ‘Wine Of Heaven’. In both songs, his guitar lines sounds like, in a good sense, a Ducati motorcycle revving up and down. It’s modern but classic at the same time.
Mostly, the album is very guitar forward, so if you like thrilling guitar work, especially in solos, you’ll find it here.
As for the third triad, the song composition, Gonella is one of those rare guitarists who know better than to simply make an arrangement a platform for his guitar skills and solos. No, his arrangements are more often moved by and wrapped in hooks in melody, harmony, and groove in collaboration with the other players and instruments.
One of the best songs that blends those elements together is ‘Enlightenment’, especially with its terrific Hard Rock groove and fine catchy chorus.
Additionally, Gonella drops-in a notable keyboard presence all over the recording, like in the slightly sympho-prog orchestration in ‘Space Of Variations’, or the piano that leads the classic metal anthem ‘Black Tree’s Heart’, or the flutter and twinkle that starts and finishes ‘Drink Of Me’.
Ah, and for the end you have a well done cover of the classic Yngwie / Goran Edman tune ‘Making Love’, very melodic (even more than the original) confirming Mastercastle’s change to a more accessible sound.
After five solid albums, Mastercastle has made a smart move on their new effort “Wine Of Heaven”. The neo-classical stuff started to become repetitive and now Gonella & Co. changed for a more classic melodic metal approach, and works like a charm for the band.
This is an album of creative and entertaining music in this timeless style, with an updated sound and potent production. There’s only 9 songs in the tracklist, but not a single bad one in the bunch.
Easily, “Wine Of Heaven” is Mastercastle’s best album to date, and a really good one.
01 – Drink of Me
02 – Space of Variations
03 – Wine of Heaven
04 – Hot as Blood
05 – Shine on Me
06 – Black Tree’s Heart
07 – Enlightenment
08 – Castle in the Sky
09 – Making Love
Giorgia Gueglio – vocals
Pier Gonella – guitars, keyboards
Steve Vawamas: bass
Francesco La Rosa – drums
PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.de/Wine-Heaven-Mastercastle/dp/B06VVBWMDX
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