Machinemade God Masked

  full reviewuser ratings (40) 
Tracklist:
1. Forgiven
2. With You
3. For Those Who Care
4. Voices
5. Vengeance
6. Who, If Not Us?
7. Place Taken
8. Endlessly
9. And Even Though You're Gone
10. Next To Me
11. Nemesis
12. Melancholy


Release Date: 2007

user rating
3.4
great
Chart.
other reviews
Robert. G (3)
Mixing melody with varying levels of aggression is something listeners will notice is something they...


  On 6 Lists

4.0
excellent
Fxxkit13 USER (17 Reviews)

October 29th, 2009 | 16 replies | 4,601 views

1 of 5 thought this review was well written

Many will attest to the fact that Metalcore has become a jaded genre, bogged down by the courtesy scream/sing vocals, the stereotypical chugging breakdowns and of course, an all too predictable song structure. But even the most suffocated of genres are allowed a breath of fresh air, and in the case of Metalcore, that air is no doubt the German Metalcore band, Machinemade God. Branching out from their 2006 debut The Infinity Complex, the band's sophmore effort Masked isn't exactly ground breaking, but shows potential and promise that has long since been lost within the stagnating genre.

Taking their cue from early 90's Melodic Death Metal, Machinemade God play a fierce brand of Metalcore, that is both beautifully melodic, yet crushingly heavy. Guitarists Marc Niedersberg and Sky Hoff are obviously well versed in a plethora of different heavy genres, with their playing ranging from Melodic Death Metal, Bay Area Thrash and the Classic Metal stylings of yore. Songs like opening number Forgiven displays the axe slinging duo playing heavy groove riffs, that are undeniably catchy, while other tracks like Voices and For Those Who Care going for more of a Thrash-like in your face approach. Its quite obvious that the two are quite adept when it comes to soloing, pulling lightning fast shred runs almost out thin air on several occasions. They even get to show a little bit of their softer side on instrumental track And Even Though Your Gone which features light, melodic, clean guitar passages. Drummer Sven Kalinowski, does a solid job throughout the album, with his foot pedal work perfectly syncing with the rhythms of the guitar lines, no matter what the pace. He also is very skilled when its to instantly switching tempo's especially on Endlessy where the he goes from slow, driving beats to fast , almost Death Metal- like insanity.

Vocally, the album does feature a scream/sing style, but in a far more interesting matter. Instead of using clean vocals in every song, ruining their potential for diversity, the band uses them sparingly, in songs like Melancholy and Nemesis which seems to just increase their overall ability to be catchy. Lead singer (screamer) Flow Velten's voice is as raspy as they get, and much rawer than you would find in the common Metalcore. He puts so much emotion into his delivery that it seems like he could blow out his voice at any given moment. Also, he makes good use of utilizing the occasional death grunt, with the timing of use often increasing the enjoyability of the song. The clean singer, Sky Hoff, doesn't have the best singing voice, but he manages to always keep it within a comfortable range, never overextending its reach. Although the band does not contain a keyboard player, synths are found providing some great atmosphere in a few of the songs like it does in Forgiven.

As previously stated, Masked isn't ground breaking, or really innovative in anyway, but the sheer quality of their play on Metalcore ranks up with the best. Many would be turned off even just by the "Metalcore" and probably refuse this a fair listen, but it's this reviewers promise that if you take the risk of giving this a listen, there is no way in hell you'll be disappointed.

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Comments:Add a Comment 
Fxxkit13
October 29th 2009



1559 Comments

Album Rating: 4

Still not really "back" but this is too good to go unnoticed.

Phrike
October 29th 2009



1691 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Pos'd, dunno why you're being negged

Album is great, my personal favourite is For Those Who Care, because it's such a sick in your face song with a crazy breakdown at the end, reminds me of Through Struggle by AILD... ofc there are other great tracks too

Douglas
October 29th 2009



7751 Comments


Many will attest to the fact that Metalcore has become a jaded genre, bogged down by the courtesy scream/sing vocals, the stereotypical chugging breakdowns and of course, an all too predictable song structure. But even the most suffocated of genres are allowed a breath of fresh air{...}


I swear every metalcore review starts like that.

Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas

Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas

Phrike
October 29th 2009



1691 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Lovely, isn't it

Douglas
October 29th 2009



7751 Comments


Tiresome, more like.

rasputin
Contributing Reviewer
October 29th 2009



14000 Comments


metalcore is stagnating but this album is the one that has changed it all yada yada yada

Roach
October 29th 2009



2149 Comments


lol

shortone323
October 29th 2009



883 Comments


Don't forget the "metalcore is stagnating and this album does nothing to change that" opening. It's a classic.

Anyway, review's not that bad, but it's not that good either.

Ulsufyring
October 29th 2009



1714 Comments


see it would work so much better if everyone realized post 1999 metalcore is poop

TheSpirit
October 29th 2009



13836 Comments

Album Rating: 4

Not all of it

Digging: Rites of Thy Degringolade - Totalitys Commad

Digging: Rites of Thy Degringolade - Totalitys Commad

Ulsufyring
October 29th 2009



1714 Comments


99.99999999999999999999999%

TheSpirit
October 29th 2009



13836 Comments

Album Rating: 4

I can agree with that but there have been a few good bands/ albums

Ulsufyring
October 29th 2009



1714 Comments


anterior is actually very good

Roach
October 29th 2009



2149 Comments


lol I reviewed Anterior with one of my first accounts.

Metalstyles
Contributing Reviewer
October 29th 2009



7317 Comments


Crushing debut by the worlds finest up and coming band.
By: Kane Cooper

Digging: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites

Digging: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites

bloc
November 13th 2009



28555 Comments

Album Rating: 3

lol, Anterior is average as hell.

Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight

Digging: Joe Bonamassa - Driving Towards The Daylight



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