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BLACK MASK
Queen Of The Beasts

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 5.5/10

Having been impressed by this Mexican outfit’s 2020 demo, Warriors Of The Night, I was eager to see how the band would progress with a full-length album.

Very much stoking the fires of the 1980s, Black Mask evoked images and sounds of Warlock on that demo, and that theme continues very much here. More so with the vocal prowess of leading lady Liz “Riot” Javier, who is joined by guitarists Andy Slaughter and Isaac A. Wild, bassist Philthy Lynott (really?), and drummer Omar Caballero.

Bad names apart, Black Mask offers up a rather short (28 minutes) debut featuring eight tracks. Only one of the songs runs over four-minutes, while opener ‘March Of The Queen’ is simply a marching intro.

The title track begins in fiery fashion, and the crash of cymbals, the speedy axe work and Javier’s warble certainly brings back those magical times of being a teenager and having enough money to make a blind buy on a record. And I guess Queen Of The Beasts is the sort of album I would have purchased back then.

Sure, this is very bog standard at times, embracing thrashy aesthetics as that bass trundles nicely, but it’s often derivative, clawing at the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene with plenty of galloping reminders. But by the time the next track, ‘Spikes & Chains’, is upon us the novelty begins to wear thin even though the energy and vigour cannot be questioned. The trouble is, this release feels “independent”, and the sort of basic noise you’d expect from an obscure mid-80s band that remained unknown for a reason… a lack of quality.

‘La Batalla’ is standard fare also – racy, rollicking Euro jangling hinting at Iron Maiden and Helloween, and almost Gothic in its basement gloominess. And that stuffiness continues with the unintentionally humorous ‘Dagon’.

Thankfully, there are a few above average cuts on offer. ‘Warriors Of The Night’ begins well and, in spite of its predictability, plods nicely, although lacks weight due to the average production. Elsewhere, ‘Lightning Knight’ starts with subtle strains before we’re off into more Euro-Goth nodding, while album closer ‘Ancient Times’ fizzes with its guitar work, but again there’s that strong air familiarity.

Oddly, I’m more attracted to Javier’s deeper grunts which I much prefer to her high squeals and slightly off-kilter warbles, but fair play to Black Mask for dishing up their clanking speed metal.

Queen Of The Beasts is not essential listening, but still provides enough dust n’ rust soundtrack to a couple of beers. However, I’m in no rush to plunder its shallows again, which is a shame, because as I said before the demo did impress me. I’m just not sure these guys have enough in the tank to go the distance… but I hope they prove me wrong.

Neil Arnold

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