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KIRK
Masquerade

Mausoleum (2014)
Rating: 5.5/10

Kirk are a Swiss melodic metal band who’ve been in existence since the late 90s and Masquerade is their second album, the follow-up to 2003’s The Final Dance. So yes, you read it correctly, it’s been over a decade since their debut composition.

Despite the popularity of their debut album and worldwide tours, Kirk eventually disbanded after drummer Vito Cecere left due to health issues, and with various other members being involved in other projects Kirk was put on the backburner. But the quartet reunited in 2010 and now features the line-up of Thomi Rauch (vocals), Sammy Lasagni (guitar), Daniel Pfister (bass), Philipp Eichenberger (drums) and Bruno Berger (keyboards).

This 11-track concern is a rather tepid dose of metal that combines progressive, goth-tinged metal and cold steel melodies. From the opening stir of ‘Devil’s Claw’, with its keyboard segments, to the closing ‘Falling Angel’ this album proves its worth as a melodic metal record, although at times it does leave me a touch chilly in its approach.

Clearly without any filler, Masquerade is a methodical album featuring songs which have been expertly thought out and exhibit the varying complex nuances which emerge from each instrument. Sadly however, while Rauch has a powerfully smooth voice – and one which suits this type of progressive rock perfectly – the lack of bite is a slight concern in that Kirk merely exist in a netherworld occupied by the likes of Queensrÿche, Dream Theater et al; a void I rarely frequent due to the shadowy nature and baffling arrangements which seem to have found a niche in metal geek-dom!

Even so, Kirk are more than able to carve out a clever tune or two whether in the form of the rousing ‘The End Of The Universe’ with its menacing riff, the jarring ‘Fight Or Die’ or plucky ‘Time’, with its simmering keys which play peek-a-boo with the icy guitars.

Kirk treads a path which exhibits sound musicianship but lacking the muscle to call it power metal in any way, shape or form. ‘Nothing Else But Lies’, ‘Fallen Angel’ and ‘Supersonic Speed’ are all high calibre metal passages – the latter being the best of the trio incorporating an Iron Maiden-esque gallop without making a lasting impression.

It almost seems unfair to rate this album considering my lack of interest in this sub-genre of metal, but as it stands Masquerade is a harmless slab of notable melody yet little crunch. Remaining unfulfilled I can only describe Kirk’s latest offering as a notch above average.

Neil Arnold

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