Subterranean Masquerade
Subterranean Masquerade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Progressive metal, avant-garde metal, experimental rock, oriental metal |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | The End Records, Taklit Music ViciSolum Productions. |
| Associated acts | Orphaned Land, Novembers Doom, Green Carnation, , Winds, Solstice Coil |
| Members | Davidavi (Vidi) Dolev - vocals Tomer Pink - guitar Or Shalev - guitar Omer Fishbein - guitar Shai Yallin - keyboard Golan Farhi - bass Jonathan Amar - drums |
| Past members | Paul Kuhr - vocals Kjetil Nordhus - vocals Eliran Weitznan - vocals Matan Or-El Shmuely - drums Yalon Schori - drums Jake DePolitte - guitar, bass Tino Losicco - drums Yishai Swearts - vocals Jason William Walton - bass Andy Winter - keyboard |
Subterranean Masquerade is a progressive metal band from Israel that was formed in 1997 by , who is a guitarist and primary songwriter for the band.
Overview[]
Started as a project consisting of a variety of changing guest and session musicians, Subterranean Masquerade formed into a band consisting of a constant line-up. In 2013, the band reformed while recording their EP - Home, after six years of no activity. Drummer Matan Shmuely (Orphaned Land) and guitarist Or Shalev have joined the group with the recording of the 2 songs EP, which was self-marketed in a limited-copy on a vinyl version only. In 2014, while recording their second album, the band announced Kjetil Nordhus (Tristania, Green Carnation) as their new singer and Shai Yallin (Solstice Coil) as their new keyboardist. While mainly described as progressive metal,[1] Subterranean Masquerade incorporates elements of jazz,[2] psychedelic rock,[3] and avant-garde metal,[4] with death metal vocals.
The release of the 2004 EP, Temporary Psychotic State, garnered high acclaim for the band among the underground metal scene.[citation needed] The 2005 album Suspended Animation Dreams received more mixed reviews at the beginning, but in 2014 the album entered the top 50 progressive-metal albums of 2000s by prog-sphere magazine.[5]
Home was released in 2013 as a two songs EP after six years of no activity from the band. It consists of the band's original song "Home" and a cover to The Mission - "Beyond The Pale". The reviews were very supportive and created big expectations for the band's forthcoming album.[6]
In January 2015, Subterranean Masquerade released their second album - The Great Bazaar with Kjetil Nordhus as the main vocalist and Paul Kuhr as harsh vocalist. The album is characterized with many different music styles, middle-eastern melodies and non-native metal instrument such as clarinet, flute, oud and trumpets.
In February 2015, the band announced that Eliran Weizman member of () will replace Paul Kuhr as their harsh vocalist.
In 2017, Subterranean Masquerade released their third studio album, Vagabond. The album was widely praised, with Luke Henson of The PROG Mind listing it as his favorite album of the decade in 2020 and describing it as "severely lacking in dull moments, musical errors, and wasted notes."[7]
In February 2018, Subterranean Masquerade embarked on a 25-day European tour supporting fellow-countrymen Orphaned Land and introducing new members Davidavi (Vidi) Dolev on vocals and Yalon Schori on drums. On April 6th, 2018, the band announced[8] via their Facebook page that Nordhus and Shmuely have amicably left the band while Dolev and Schori were announced as permanent members.
In March 2019, just prior to embarking on their third European tour, Eliran Weitzman left the band, with Dolev assuming all vocal responsibilities.
In 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis, then band focused on studio work and released The Pros & Cons of Social Isolation, an album consisting of 7 reworked tracks from previous albums, as well as a cover of the Phil Collins hit Another Day in Paradise. Later that year, the band announced they signed a record deal with Sensory Records to release their next album Mountain Fever in May of 2021.
Discography[]
Albums[]
- Suspended Animation Dreams, 2005
- The Great Bazaar, 2015
- Vagabond, 2017
- The Pros & Cons of Social Isolation, 2020
- Mountain Fever, 2021
EPs[]
- Temporary Psychotic State, 2004
- Home, 2013
Other appearances[]
- Dead Can Dance Tribute: The Lotus Eaters, 2004
- Cuts You Up – The Complete Dark 80's Covers Compilation, 2000
References[]
- ^ "Subterranean Masquerade - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Interview with Tomer". Vampire-magazine.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Official bio Archived 2008-03-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Review of Suspended Animation Dreams". Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Top 50 Progressive Metal Albums of 2000s by Prog Sphere". Prog-sphere.com. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Subterranean Masquerade - Home review - Metal Storm". Metalstorm.net. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Luke's Top Ten Favorite Albums Of The 2010s". The PROG Mind. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
- ^ "Subterranean Masquerade". Facebook.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
External links[]
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- Psychedelic rock music groups
- Israeli progressive metal musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1997
- American musical trios
- Oriental metal musical groups
- Heavy metal music stubs