Master of Disguise

Lizzy Borden | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 5, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metal Blade
• ASIN: B000001C7S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,340 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing album, now even better!, October 18, 2007

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master of Disguise (W/Dvd) (Audio CD)

I had originally written off Lizzy Borden as not being worth my time, largely due to Lizzy's over-the-top image and theatrics. A friend tried to get me interested in the band's early albums a few years back, but it just wasn't working for me. Then one day I ran across a copy of Master of Disguise for $1.99 and figured I'd give it a try. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! This was no poor man's KISS or Twisted Sister reject; this was a serious metal album!

Master of Disguise is traditional metal with a power metal edge and the sophistication of progressive metal. It wasn't quite a concept album, but I kept thinking of Queensryche's Operation: Mindcrime as I listened to it. Not that it sounds like Queensryche, or that it is as influential as Mindcrime; it just had that same aura of maturity and intelligence that was relatively lacking in most other 1989 metal albums.

I could see this album appealing to a variety of metal fans. Fans of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and other traditional metal bands will enjoy the album's classic metal sound. Fans of Queensryche, Fates Warning, and other progressive metal bands will enjoy the intelligent lyrics and symphonic arrangements; though I should point out that Lizzy's band doesn't have the technical prowess that most prog bands have. Power metal fans should enjoy all of the above.

The 2007 reissue of Master of Disguise is a real treat. The main attraction is that the album has been given a much needed digital remastering that brings the sound quality to a level with most of today's releases. You also get a pair of bonus tracks - a spooky slow tune called Vampire's Kiss and a brief orchestral postlude called (appropriately enough) The Orchestra, which serves as a fitting end to this ambitious album. The reissue also includes a "Making of Master of Disguise" DVD with videos, live performances, and tons of behind the scenes footage. Contrary to what a previous reviewer has stated, there are more than enough reasons to buy this reissue, even if you already have the album on CD. The remastering alone made me bump my rating of this album from 4 stars to 5.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enssential Metal From 1994, May 2, 2000

By 

CaptHowdy (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master of Disguise (Audio CD)

On of my first CDs (when metal was finally getting published on CD), this was a shocker to me. I had received a copy of Visual Lies as one of my many selections from the Columbia House Club and liked it. So I asked for this for Christmas.

I must have listened to this CD straight for practically two years. The songs all have great melody and get soft and heavy at the right times. The lyrics are really good.

Lizzy was one underrated artist when this came out. Perhaps people stayed away from him because of his antics & appearance, but they sure missed out. Almost everyone I introduced to his music loved his voice.

Master Of Disguise comes close to a concept CD, but doesn't really have a straight topic. Some of my favorites are: Master Of Disguise, Never Too Young, and We Got The Power.

This is one I put on my 'essential metal' rack.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This cd is great!, November 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Master of Disguise (Audio CD)

With this CD, Lizzy shows he can also be a mature songwriter, as many of the lyrics are well written and structured. The music on this CD is dark and moody, which shows this artist can do much more than your typical metal. I loved this cd because it not only was strong lyrically and musically as demonstrated by the songs Phantoms, Master Of Disguise, Love Is A Crime and Never Too Young. It was also a cd you would not mind listening to more often.