Customer Reviews

Angels of the Apocalypse

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Mastermind began as a fusion outfit, playing primarily instrumental music, but on this CD, they brought in new vocalist Lisa Bouchelle, and adopted a more song-oriented format. The songs remain fairly long, and contain extended instrumental sections, but these are now built around vocal melodies. The vocals are very professional, with an almost classical feel in places. The metal-tinged guitar riffs complement the singer nicely. The instrumental sections favor fluid solos, and the keyboards provide a good backgrop for the guitar. The result is music that is consistently interesting, and quite pleasant to listen to. This CD deserves more recognition than it has received up to now.

I must say that after reading the other reviews that i thought maybe I had done the wrong thing in ordering this CD but now after listening to it many times I`m sure its very good. The new female singer Lisa Bouchelle is an exciting extra to Mastermind
she brings out a greater sense of melody . The guys are sounding fresh and the songs on this CD are also well written and musicaly outstanding with Bill Berends, Rich Berends and Jens Johansson these guys sound fantastic together. The version they do of ELP`s (The Endless Enigma)will make most prog heads drool. I don`t know what it is that some of the other reviewers hear (that they don`t like) but what ever it is I can`t hear it.
Well done Mastermind a very good CD, I feel the best is yet to come.

Granted that they are at their best when doing completely instrumental songs, but I found that their added vocals took the band further than they would have gone if they'd kept on doing only instrumental songs. It is not as good as Excelsior, but it is still a good album. I think that this album will lead to something even better next time.

Last year's Excelsior album was hailed as being one of the instrumental delights of 1999, a near-perfect slice of prog, fusion and metal, incorporating involved but highly melodic interplay between Bill Berends and Jens Johannsen.

It was quite evident that the two, driven by the wonderfully powered drumming of Rich Berends have a great understanding. Thankfully the great Jens has returned to record this new album with the Berends brothers, but this is a different monster indeed.

This is an album that explores heavier roots with a sound that often lingers between the neo-clasical elements of Stratovarius or Yngwie, the thoughtful contemplation of ELP and the great riffs of Iron Maiden.

It never though loses its power or emotion for one minute. We have their latest recruit to thank for that. From blonde vixen to classic brunette, the new recruit, Lisa Bouchelle has caused a stir with her delicate blend of operatics. From the opening track, The End of the World to the excellent Queen of Sheba, it is quite evident that this is going to be her album as much as anyone elses. We know already the established talents around her, and this album is perfectly moulded to incorporate her voice. She is delicate but she can also rock as well.

It is also equally reassuring to know that the mix is perfectly placed to emphasise what is great about this album... it's a rocker!

There's plenty of evidence to suggest that with more publicity from such self-confessed fans like Mike Portnoy that this band could be on a par with Spock's Beard and Symphony X as one of the top bands of the Inside Out label.

Do note hesistate to try this album.

I'm late to the game with this CD. I came across Mastermind accidentally as they opened up someone in Poughkeepsie in 1997. If it were not for the insane drumming, I might have forgotten about them. I picked up 2 of their CDs and saw great potential. Complex arrangements abound, but they only hit on a really good SONG once in a while, and usually when Bill sang. But as a singer, he didn't strike me as having the emotion of some others. Since then I got out of prog and into more straightforward metal... until now. So I picked up this CD to see how it sounded.

I'm completely blown away. More well written songs on this CD than all their others combined. Very moving words and melodies, yet they still have their awesome Mastermind prog sound. I love Bill's lyrics and Lisa sounds great. Having a dedicated singer has added that missing dimension that they needed. Their potential is being realized.

The reason I don't give it a 5 is that the recording is not very good. It tends to be shrill. I've heard low budget recordings that sounded fabulous, so I know that $$ is not necessarily an excuse for that.

"Excelsior" by Bill Berends & Co. was a great instrumental album. On their 2000 CD release, Bill surprises us with female vocals (Lisa Bouchelle) - he really shouldn't have done that. Obviously, Bill isn't skilled enough to write good vocal parts. Hence, this album is great in its instrumental-only parts, but sounds like a cheap middle-of-the-road-wannabe-metal-band-with-female-singer otherwise. And was this "Endless Enigma" thing really necessary?!? I mean, this is one of ELP's best songs, and it's hard to top their own version. Now Bill comes up with a badly arranged cover version, with a female voice that sounds absolutely misplaced on this track... One more unneccessary rehash of a great classic prog composition. Two stars for the few instrumental parts that are great, as usual. Hopefully the next album will be an instrumental one. Hands off from vocals, Bill!

...its fantastic! The female vocals are a brilliant
inclusion to a truely brilliant musical base the ELP cover
is totaly wild...This is progressive metal done
the way its done today!!! if you are already a Mastermind fan
it would seem some of the other [reviewers] who reviewed arn`t, then you must have this CD!

I just didn't like this at all. Not pop enough to make an impact musically.

There's a reason prog-metal garbage like this went out of style circa 1983 -- it's predictable and redundant past 5 minutes! Oh well, they can always survive opening up for Dream Theater and Spinal Tap in Japan...

Save your money and buy the Echolyn CD instead. They blow this stuff away.