DENNER / SHERMANN — Masters Of Evil (review)

DENNER / SHERMANN — Masters Of Evil album cover Album · 2016 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Nightfly
Michael Denner and Hank Shermann are best known for their time in legendary 80’s metal band Mercyful Fate with King Diamond and Denner later as a member of King Diamond’s band. Although there have been other projects they’ve been somewhat keeping a low profile of late. That is until the duo reunited and recruited drummer Snowy Shaw (who also played with King Diamond and a later incarnation of Merciful Fate), Bassist Marc Grabowski (Demonica) and vocalist Sean Peck (Death Dealer) and released the promising Satan’s Tomb E.P. last year.

Masters Of Evil is the band’s first full length album and I’m pleased to say it’s brilliant! Not surprisingly there’s plenty of parallels to Merciful Fate with the eight songs having a strong trad metal vibe with that dark MF sound aided by a sympathetic production that’s organic and powerful too. Even the cover, perhaps deliberately, bears an uncanny resemblance to Don’t Break The Oath as if to say were back doing what we do best. As you’d expect it’s the dual guitar work of Denner and Shermann that instantly draw you in, both playing some of the most inspired work of their career. These guys are masters of their art and know how to create a dark brooding riff without needing to bludgeon the listener into submission. That’s not to say this isn’t a heavy album – it is metal after all but there’s also a healthy dose of melody and best of all it’s an album that’s consistently strong from start to end. Picking favourites is futile such is the quality but opener Angel’s Blood is a grand statement of intent and Pentagram And The Cross is another favourite of mine. The pace is measured, the band wisely opting to not try and compete with the obsessions of many current bands who feel the need to be flat out all the time and benefits greatly from it, though they can go up a few gears when required like on Escape From Hell. The rest of the band plays well and vocalist Sean Peck is a fine singer and can hit a few King Diamond high notes when required though there the parallels end.

Masters of Evil is a great success and a masterclass in how great metal albums used to be made but fresh enough to attract younger listeners who weren’t even born when these guys were having their 15 minutes of fame. Hopefully there’s more to come in the future as it would be a real shame if this turned out to be a one off.
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