review: Mastercastle - Lighthouse Pathetic (melodic metal from Italy)

Mastercastle

Lighthouse Pathetic

Diamonds Prod.

10 January 2022

1. Who Cares for the Moon 04:18

2. The Lighthouse Pathetic 03:53

3. That's All 04:25

4. Rosso Profondo 03:41 instrumental

5. Call Your Wings 04:55

6. Monster Whispers 05:33

7. Diamonds 03:51

8. Fantastic Planet 06:39

9. Space 04:03

10. Fast as a Shark (Accept cover) 03:38

total time 44:56

The melodic band Mastercastle began in 2008 and this is their seventh album. They feature an experienced rhythm section with Alessio Spallarossa on drums and Steve Vawamas on bass. Giorgia Gueglio sings and Pier Gonella (Athlantis, Necrodeath, Odyssea, Perseo Miranda, Vanexa, Verde Lauro, ex-Amazing Maze, ex-Wild Steel, Pier Gonella, ex-Bellathrix, ex-Labÿrinth, ex-Synthphonia Suprema) takes care of the guitars. Pier plays various genres of guitar, as one can see above, but for this band he tends to be melodic, more traditional heavy metal, with elements of shredding, neoclassical and prog. The seventh full-length finds the Italians ever working on perfecting a balance between fun, rocking songs, on one hand, good, skilled instrumentation, on the other, while expanding said sound and adding new things to the music. Sometimes it is a bigger thing that listeners can notice easily, and at other times, it is small details that one might notice after a few listens.

A song like “That’s All” is melodic, catchy, with the band not over playing, not over doing things. The singing practically dares people not to sing along, and the song has a cool, classic-style rocking beat, and the guitar solo steps in big time to catch one’s attention with a bit of shredding and melody. This song is a good illustration of the main style of the band throughout the years. This type of song is a fundamental part of the band’s sound: big rhythm section, melodies, catchy riffs, sing-along chorus, skilled solos, and beautiful singing. This new album has a few surprises, like the legendary Rhapsody singer Fabio Lione on the first song, and Necrodeath’s vocalist Alberto “Flegias” Gaggiotti doing the main vocals on the classic Accept cover; they also have other guests [Andrea De Paoli, keyboards (tracks 4, 8); Mattia Stancioiu, drums (track 7); Francesco "Frullo" La Rosa, drums (track 10)]. There are other surprises to keep out an eye for, like on the title track, the guitar gets rather heavy and grooving, and even has a little breakdown groove (!) that repeats several times. That’s fun. Then, on song number six they go into the heavy blues territory; it’s still Mastercastle, but if one listens to this song separate from the rest of the album, it’s a bit unexpected from the neoclassical, shredding, melodic guitar style of the band. Song number four is a neoclassical prog instrumental track, while number eight shows some space rock moments. In short, another fun, varied album by Mastercastle, and only one question remains: Does the band have somewhere hidden in the vault a version of the Accept cover with only Giorgia on vocals (without any guests)?!

Mastercastle - Who Cares for The Moon feat. Fabio Lione

Mastercastle The Lighthouse Pathetic official videoclip

https://www.facebook.com/mastercastleband