One thing that beats me is how someone can record an album playing all the instruments and, besides all that, making all the vocals. No way in hell I could do it. Think with me, the person has to create all instrumental lines, all melodies, put everything together, boil, cook, and voilà, the bread, I mean, the album is done. But, against all odds – no pun intended -, mastermind Tiago Masseti does it all in the album except for some especial guests. I have to say, the output is somewhat impressive.
“Odds and Ends” commences with the powerful “Serpents and Whores” whose deep meaning is yet to be explained. First thing that calls the eye is the fantastic drumming with lots of intricate bass drums. If you doubt what I am saying, my dear child of the night, go to “Heir of the Survivor,” and tell me. To think of it, again, mastermind Tiago Masseti, the soul that recorded all the instruments, claims to be a guitarist, but his drumming is far much more impressive. The track has some heavyness that is really difficult to be matched. The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear “The Singer in the Arms of Winter” and “Hindrance” is Deep Purple with Glen Hughes and his powerful and unique which lends the song a very peculiar mood. Moreover, I have to praise the way the album goes from a track full of grooves and power as “Never Be Like You” to something as sweet as the aforementioned “Hindrance.”
I don’t know if it is only me, but in my opinion, the overall mood of “Odds and Ends” is a bit far from the standard Prog Metal. It goes beyond it. Ok, maybe I am not that familiar with the term Prog Metal, and I’ll admit I am not, but from all bands I have heard here I can say Masseti go beyond the label. Album warmer “Serpents and Whores” is a great example. There is an intrinsic, and most of the times hidden, groove that spices the cooking. The mix of piano and big guitar riffs of “Heir of the Survivor” tell me this.
Masseti “Odds and Ends” will be self-released on June 13th.
Track Listing:
01. Serpents and Whores
02. Against Our Fire
03. The Pool of Liquid Dreams
04. Gone
05. The Singer in the Arms of Winter
06. Never Be Like You
07. Hindrance
08. Heir of the Survivor
Watch “Against Our Fire” official track visualizer here.
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!