Liege Lord - Master Control review
| Band: | Liege Lord |
| Album: | Master Control |
| Style: | US power metal, Thrash metal |
| Release date: | 1988 |
| Guest review by: | JÄY |
01. Fear Itself
02. Eye Of The Storm
03. Master Control
04. Kill The King [Rainbow cover]
05. Soldiers Of Fortune
06. Feel The Blade
07. Broken Wasteland
08. Rapture
09. Suspicion
10. Fall Out
Power Metal. Some would say it's not a very diverse genre, but albums like this prove that it is. This isn't Helloween, but it's 100% power... well with maybe a little thrash thrown in LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. Master Control is Liege Lord's 3rd and final release and it's head and shoulders above the earlier two. What sets it apart? Plain ol' song writing... and a much better vocalist who sounds like Dio, to me. These songs really stick in your head.
At times it can get a bit too chuggy, but that's my only gripe. Master Control is what power metal bands should be shooting for, yet like most other US power bands (save Iced Earth), it remains in the shadows, despite being able to hold its own against any Gamma Ray release.
Like I mentioned earlier, we have the perfect amount of thrashyness thrown in here, making the riffs stronger than many "flower" releases from that continent to the east and giving Master Control a few more points in the originality section, though I wouldn't call this an original record, just skillfully played and fun. The entire disc is high energy and there isn't a ballad to be found. Now, I'm not saying power metal albums are better without ballads, but it's nice to hear a break in the cycle.
Well, that about wraps it up; we have here a competent, overlooked release that's sure to satisfy many fans of the genre, SO GO GET IT!
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 9 |
| Originality: | 6 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by JÄY | 16.06.2011
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
Comments: 4
Visited by: 60 users
| The Galactician Posts: 400  |
Great review! This album has been one of my absolute favorites for over 20 years now. I love the vocals and think they're pretty unique for the genre--a bit more gruff and deep than your standard power metal howl--and you're absolutely spot on that the songwriting sets this record apart. I actually bought this way back when because of the cover alone, in the days before you could listen to anything and everything whilst sitting in your comfy computer chair.  Totally awesome surprise.
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| R'Vannith ghedengi Elite Posts: 3099  |
Good to see a review of this classic, great work! Joe Comeau does an awesome job of the vocals on this one. One of the best US Power metal albums I've heard.
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| Void Eater Account deleted |
Void Eater
Account deleted
Review was spot on. Nothing really new about it, but just so well done, you have to like it. Vocalist sounded like a harsher Bruce Dickinson to me, which is always a good thing. Thrashy riffs+melody+great vocals=happy Void Eater.
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| ArmoredSaint456 Account deleted |
ArmoredSaint456
Account deleted Written by [user id=111774] on 18.06.2011 at 04:53 I agree 'bout Bruce. Thrash Riffs + Melody + Dickinsonish Vocals = An Even Happier Beast Of Metal
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