On Picture Black Music

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For any musician looking to form the perfect band lineup, the question of what makes the definitive lineup always is a pressing one and often serves to create more questions on its own rather than answers (chemistry, reflection of one's influences/tastes, etc.). Sometimes too many bands that appear to show lots of promise in theory become so usurped by those same questions while developing their sound and identity they end up removing the concept of simply playing music from the equation and combust soon after. It's a scenario that Toronto's Mastery have come close to experiencing themselves in the past but rather than ponder what sets them apart from other bands they decided to simply play the music that they had already wrote and perfected for their debut CD Lethal Legacy – even if it meant not finding a vocalist for the 6 tracks on the CD. This in turn had me asking questions of my own when I received this CD, such as whether or not I'll enjoy a metal CD with no singing on it.

Turns out I do.

In fact, what attracted me to the CD in the first place was the playing and the execution and speed that went along with it. The dueling rhythm and leads from guitarists Markus Armellini and Jeff Dormer compliment each other rather than steal each other's spotlight in particular on "Numeration" and the riveting "Power Race" (both of which you get to hear twice on the CD as studio and live versions) while bassist Anthony Ristovski and drummer Kevan Roy provide a lean and powerful rhythmic backbone to the tracks, especially on "No Tomorrow" and "Nevermore", the latter which alone sounds like it was inspired by more than just the band name. Elsewhere on the CD comparisons ranging from Dream Theater to Into Eternity to Ride The Lightning-era Metallica are inevitably drawn but when performed with such precision and passion, much like the lack of vocals, you'll be too busy entranced in the music to notice or care where they are.

**** 1/2

http://www.myspace.com/masterymetal

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