25th February 2025

Review: “Closer to Death” by Masquerader

Without wishing to sound bleak, there are three certain inevitabilities in life – Birth, Taxes and Death. Perhaps that’s part of the subliminal message behind the long awaited, highly anticipated sophomore EP “Closer to Death” from Masquerader or perhaps they’re simply trying to encourage you to embrace life because it’s finite. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jack Twiner at Pyramid Studios (Third Lung, Tape It Shut, One Eyed Man) it was written, performed and produced by Tim Williamson, Chris Fry and Danny Molyneux; drummer, bassist and vocalist/button-pusher respectively in follow up to their debut “Nothing Will Change“. Comprising an unholy trinity of cuts that the band have been performing and tightening up in the live arena for a little while, the band have remained true to their DIY or DIE work ethic and chosen to waterfall release the tracks in ahead of time…

Eclectic, eccentric and chaotic to the core, the Masquerader have a reputation for painting portraits in sound that bring together influences from experimental Hip-hop, Noise Rock, Math Rock, Post Hardcore and Progressive Metal to create a metaphorical smorgasbord that keeps you guessing. It’s a cliché to say the least but with “Vertical Video“, the trio pick up where they left off with “Nothing Will Change” as if they never left the studio. Vocalist Danny Molyneux rants and raves his way through the lyric sheet with catchy tongue twister “the next legend of town!” to create a hypnotic earworm that will not escape once it gets into your head, the electronic groove building on the foundation of their break out track “Pressure“. The driving percussion and bombastic bass is what make them a unique undertaking, the lack of guitars refreshing in what is largely a beating heart of Post-Hardcore sound. “Pyre” then takes the baton and runs with it, pushing the electronics and Molyneux unclean vocals further in the first verse. Hip-hop influences then rise to the surface to give the track a Head Automatica feel with rumbling bass from Chris Fry taking the lead later on. The melancholic keys that finish the tale are a nice touch for the lyrical title track, Molyneux providing lyrics that resonate because who hasn’t felt like no one else gives a s*** when you’re working your fingers to the bone? A short and yet sickly sweet record comes to a tub thumping conclusion with the quirky time signatures of “Worse Than The Wolf“, a cut that the edge of the seat was made for. Bursting into 90’s break beats and almost dropping the electronics out completely, this one is arguably the band at their most diverse with Molyneux sounding like a deranged poet against the backdrop of powerful rhythmic overdrive. The wonderful thing about Masquerader is that they have never been afraid to experiment with their sound and that gives their music a joy in freedom while making them one of the more unique offerings on Planet Metal [8/10]

Track Listing