MASON — Impervious (review)

Album · 2017 · Thrash Metal

4/5 · 2019-04-27
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I had descended to three floors below street level in the Shibuya area of Tokyo and entered a small live house called “Cyclone”. I was there to see Obscura perform and also the two opening acts, Jinjer and Nucleust. I had arrived a little late, however, and by the time I walked in the door, the first band was already on stage. It wasn’t Nucleust, but instead an Australian thrash band called Mason. I had never heard of them but it wasn’t long before I was captured by their music. Speedy and aggressive thrash metal with lots of melodic lead guitar breaks, Mason were on full power. A mosh circle opened up in the centre of the floor in the confined venue, which was barely larger than a good-sized living room. A couple of bold punters climbed up on the stage and dived into the small but enthusiastic crowd. Then Jimmy Benson (g/v) himself announced, “I’m coming out,” before diving off the stage too.

During the break between Jinjer and Obscura, I went over to Mason’s merch table and decided to buy their latest CD, “Impervious”. Just then Jimmy Benson walked over. Joining him were drummer Nonda Tsatsoulis and lead guitarist Grant Burns. I had a chance to share a few words with them and have a photo taken. Great guys, and what a fantastic live act!

Mason formed in 2011 in Melbourne, Australia and have released two eps and two lps so far. “Impervious” actually came out in 2017. It features the incredible cover art of Eliran Kantor whose work has graced dozens upon dozens of metal album covers. Mason are hugely inspired by the Big Four of American thrash metal and the Bay Area thrash scene. This is really apparent in the music of “Impervious”. These four dudes have worked hard to earn their thrash degree. And yet, even though they have Metallica or Exodus moments, I often feel there are similarities to Nuclear Assault or Canada’s Sacrifice.

The opening track is a short instrumental called “Eligos” and sounds quite similar to something from Strapping Young Lad’s self-titled third album. But this soon takes us right into the snarling thrash number, “Burn”. Already, you’ll have a good idea of what Mason stand for: tense snarling or barked vocals, a speedy and tight rhythm section with an agile drummer, and guitars that can charge full throttle or slow down a little for some skillful and sometimes beautifully melodic lead guitar.

Mason show off refined talent here for writing speedy and intense songs but always seem ready to introduce more mid-tempo parts with melody. When they’re fast and intense, hold on. But though they are sure to add those melodic parts, you’ll not find a ballad or any classical guitar on this album. You’ll probably be reminded of “Ride the Lightning” Metallica a little or “Bonded by Blood” Exodus.

I was at first tempted to cite the similarity in the verse vocals as a weak point on the album as the verses are typically delivered in rapid-fire, staccato barks. However, Mason are very sincerely giving it their all and sounding awesome. Enjoy the melody and drama of the track “The Afterlife”, the sick intensity of “Hellbent on Chaos”, or the thrashingly good closer, “Created to Kill”. From start to finish, this album delivers nothing more than ripping thrash metal which stays closer to 1984 than 1988, when bands began changing up the tempos of their songs more, adding in gentler clean guitar or acoustic guitar parts, actually singing, or going for more technical or even progressive approaches. In other words: maturing. Mason are not as raw as “Bonded by Blood” or “Darkness Descends” (Dark Angel); their sound is rich and full. But it has the fury and ferocity paired with an almost Metallica/Iron Maiden sense of melodic metal parts and a good variety of riff and rhythm changes in each song.