MASTERS OF DISGUISE — The Savage and the Grace (review)

MASTERS OF DISGUISE — The Savage and the Grace album cover

Album · 2015 · Speed Metal

3.5/5 · 2015-04-15
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The Savage and the Grace (2015) is the second full-length album by German speed metal act Masters of Disguise. The band has had their line-up cut down from five to four since the release of their debut Back with a Vengeance (2013) with the departure of guitarist Roger Dequis. They've also swapped drummer to Jens Gellner.

Masters of Disguise make no secret about what they are all about, they exist purely out of worship for the US band Savage Grace. The band's original line-up, minus vocalist Alexx Stahl of course, was the 2009 - 2010 touring band for Savage Grace whose own last known line-up consisted only of their vocalist Chris Logue. With Savage Grace seemingly defunct, Masters of Disguise was begun, with the apparent aim to be a worthy successor, taking their name from a Savage Grace album and alluding to them every chance they get, the latest example being the title of this second album, The Savage and the Grace. They have also covered one Savage Grace song on each release they're done so far, this time choosing Sins of the Damned from Savage Grace's Master of Disguise (1985) album.

Thing is with me and Masters of Disguise, I haven't ever actually listened to Savage Grace. Their debut certainly made me interested in their idols, but a year and a half has passed since Back with a Vengeance was released and I still haven't done so. But for the moment I'm actually glad about that, as it allows me to evaluate The Savage and the Grace based on Masters of Disguise as their own band, without worrying about how much Savage Grace worship is really going on. I was quite a big fan of their debut, a very fun and energetic speed metal record in my opinion, so obviously I was looking forward to hearing more from the band.

The Savage and the Grace simply fails to make the same sort of instant impact though that Back with a Vengeance did for me. Some tracks instantly stand out such as Knutson II: (Only A Mother's Love) Is Forever, The Enforcer and especially Conquering The World is a pretty killer song with great instrumental work. I'm also quickly reminded about how good a vocalist these guys have in Alexx Stahl, but the bulk of The Savage and the Grace seems a bit more forgettable than I was expecting. It is a very listenable record with strong vocals and musicianship and all of speed metal, traditional metal, and US power metal elements (maybe even a little bit of Euro style power metal too) covered and as such is such a record that has the potential to appeal to a lot of tastes. But at its conclusion the album simply leaves me feeling rather underwhelmed, which is obviously a greatly contrasting feeling after rating Back with a Vengeance within a 4.5 star rating back in 2013. The Sins of the Damned cover is another highlight though of course I can't compare it to the original. I can't imagine it's anything but faithful though.

The Savage and the Grace may not be everything I'd hoped it would be, but it isn't by any means a bad record. The key difference is that the debut kicked my arse and this doesn't, but there is some decent metal to be had all the same. I'm going to with 3.5 stars.