(Dynamic Arts) Total Time: 43:04
MASTERSTROKE, the young Finnish band, are back one year and a half after 2007’s “Sleep”. This time they put me in heavy thinking. They didn’t change their style, they are still playing melodic metal using keyboards on the background, they solo with great ease and Niko’s voice is even better, more melodic, yet maintaining its characteristic grit. All songs one by one are smartly delivered with heavy riffs, great vocal performance, a very consistent sound and a very nice flow. The only thing that changed radically in the band is the animated cover that escapes the thematology of all their previous releases that were obviously made by the same artist. However, the release in general doesn’t leave something memorable behind it. I couldn’t recall any riff or chorus, although I enjoyed many of them during the listening process. Is it me thinking more than I should or is it today’s music that can be well served, but without a certain taste? You will find out yourselves when you listen to “As Days Grow Darker”. When you do this, you will also listen to some sweet female vocals in a couple of songs, some riffs that refer to the groovier -core scene and an overall dynamic approach in the band’s playing. MASTERSTROKE is another band that needs this something more to make the breakthrough, otherwise they will produce only albums that don’t exceed the characterization of just being ‘good’. “As Days Grow Darker” is another release that keeps a general quality, but lacks the edge or the spark that could ignite their music. Until the next one…
