Israel based band SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE have been around in one form or another since the tail end of the 1990’s, and appeared as recording artists in 2004 and 2005, releasing an initial EP followed by a full length studio album to what I understand was a rather positive critical acclaim back then. Following this the band disappeared from sight again for a number of years, until they released the single “Home” in 2014. This production was made available as a digital download the following year, now with a third track supplementing the initial two on the physical release.
I understand that this is a multinational band that draw in a lot of impulses into their compositions, as would be natural for a band with members from different nations and cultures present or otherwise involved. In that respect the expanded digital version of this single is perhaps the most interesting one, as all three tracks are fairly different from each other.
Opening cut Home, the A-side of the original vinyl single, is a compositions that alternates between the gentle and melodic and the more powerful and dramatic, with plucked guitar details and deep, warm vocals central for the former and dark, powerful riffs and growl vocals for the latter, with a wide assortment of instrumental interludes and transitions tossed in to a rather sophisticated compositional structure, and with an inspired riff and mystical violin arrangement as a recurring feature that adds something of a Middle Eastern tinged sound to the proceedings.
B-side track Beyond the Pale is more of a vintage hard progressive rock affair, again combining features of a more delicate manner with sections sporting a harder edged expression, but shying away from a more bombastic metal sound on this occasion. Again featuring sequences with the violin, on this occasion a more careful arrangement with plucked guitar details that for me sounded like Mediterranean in style, paired off with haunting violin details that reminded me of the folk music we have here in Norway. Towards the end we’re then provided with a second violin motif, this time with more of a distinct Middle Eastern touch to it.
The additional bonus track included on the digital release of this single, That Night, is a more dramatic and dark creation that stays safely put within the quirkier parts of the progressive metal universe. Again with regular interludes and transitions exploring a light toned and delicate nature, but now contrasted by more striking and intense powerful and at times challenging metal based and driven passages, complete with growl style lead vocals. On this occasion the violin is initially a part of an orchestrated arrangement of the kind that points back to western classical symphonic music as a source of origin, and then reappearing towards the end and now with more of a mystical and possibly Middle Eastern inspired tinge to it.
I don’t really know how representative this expanded single is to the overall sound of this band, but as it features three rather different compositions it does showcase quite a bit about the depth and versatility of the band, and as all three tracks comes across as quality compositions too I suspect that this production would be a good start if you want to get familiar with the material of the band. In more specific terms, I’d presume that those with a general interest in bands that blends progressive metal with world music elements might want to give this one a spin, as long as they tend to enjoy growl-style vocals in such a context.
My rating: 80/100
