Mastercastle – Dangerous Diamonds

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Harking back to a time when having a woman sing for your heavy metal band was still being treated as a novelty and she probably didn’t wear a corset, Mastercastle produce traditional old school heavy metal along the lines of Warlock. Expect lots of big soloing, big melodies and a sound that hasn’t particularly evolved since the ’80s. Not that there is anything wrong with that, Mastercastle’s classic sounding style still works rather well – whether that be mid-paced power ballads like Time 4 Lovers or bigger anthems like opener Another Flower. Singer Giorgia Gueglio is unexciting but capable and tuneful, with her band providing a strong rhythm section and some pretty great guitar solos. Where Dangerous Diamonds falls as an album is that whilst the band have the skill and the sound, they do come across as a bit weak when compared to other bands reviving the genre. Triosphere pull off a similar sound but with much more energy, conviction and progressive song-writing; whilst Benedictum are heavier and have a far more gutsy sound, and that says nothing for continuing genre mainstay Doro. Meanwhile Mastercastle come across as a bit of a soft-touch, certainly pleasant to listen to but unlikely to leave a lasting impression. Still, Dangerous Diamonds is far from being a poor record, and should certainly satisfy fans clamouring for more of this particular style.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Female-fronted, Heavy Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Mastercastle