MAS OPTICA — Choose to See More (review)

MAS OPTICA — Choose to See More album cover Album · 1993 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Choose to See More" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Wisconsin based progressive/thrash metal act Mas Optica. The album was released through Rising Sun Records in 1993. Mas Optica formed in 1985 under the Renegade monicker and released a 1986 demo and their 1988 full-length studio album "Social Pressure" before changing their name to the current one in 1990.

Althoug the quartet lineup who recorded "Social Pressure" in 1988 is exactly the same as the lineup who recorded "Choose to See More", Mas Optica is a completely different beast to Renegade. Renegade played a power/heavy metal style with progressive metal leanings and the occasional nod towards speed/thrash metal, but Mas Optica use almost none of those elements. At least not in the form used by Renegade, except on "My House is Green", which features parts which actually sounds like something Renegade could have released. The tapped lead theme is pretty similar to the tapped lead theme on Renegade´s "Killer Eyes" song. Instead "Choose to See More" features a music style which can be labelled progressive alternative rock/metal. The only other artist I have heard (or at least remember at the top of my head) which play a style even remotely similar to what Mas Optica play here is the Canadians in Heaven's Cry and even that is a stretch. In other words, we´re dealing with a band who play a very unique style of music.

While Mas Optica still occasionally plays some pretty heavy and even thrashy riffs and rhythms, they just as often (actually more often) play some hard rocking parts featuring acoustic guitars, bass, and drums as the main instruments. There´s also a healthy dose of psychedelic rock elements found on the album, as well as unconventional/progressive song structures. Lead vocalist/guitarist Randy Diderrich has a strong voice and sings both high pitched melodic parts, mid-range alternative rock type vocals, and more gruff thrash metal style vocals.

The sound production is professional, detailed, and suits the material well, but when that is said the distorted guitar tone isn´t that great. It´s as if there isn´t enough power when the band put the distortion on. It´s not a major issue and "Choose to See More" is still an overall well sounding release. Upon conclusion I´m not sure I did the greatest job of describing how "Choose to See More" sounds, but in my defense it is a very eclectic release. It´s definitely a one-of-a-kind release and Mas Optica deserves a lot of credit for releasing such an experimental and bold debut album. Not everything on the album works wonders but I think the good outweighs the few bads. Unfortunately "Choose to See More" would be Mas Optica´s only release as nothing has been heard from them since. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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