Year : 2019
Style : Hard Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans + Video
Size : 129 mb
Bio:
In the beginning...In 1984, MASS released their first album, a self-titled EP produced by Jon Mathias. It was recorded at The Record Plant in New York City. The EP sold 10,000 copies in the Boston area alone, and got the attention of record companies.In 1985, the band signed with RCA and released their first major label debut, New Birth, produced by Tony Platt. The 45 single, Do You Love Me, went to Number One at one of the local Boston radio stations and hit Billboard's charts. The video made for that single was in rotation on MTV.In 1987, MASS signed with Enigma and released their third album, Take You Home, produced by John Rollo and MASS. This record sold tens of thousands in the United States as well as England, Japan, and other countries around the world.In 1988, MASS released their fourth record, Voices in the Night, on Enigma. Michael Sweet of the band Stryper was the producer. This CD sold well all over the world too. Songs such as Reach for the Sky, Turn it All Around, and Voices of the Night were available as CD singles. Songs from this CD also appeared on various compilations CD's (What are some of the compilations?). That year, MASS was nominated for Best Heavy Metal Act at the Boston Music Awards.In 2000, MASS released its fifth record titled Mass Best Ones on Fore Reel Records. They continue to have a strong following all over the United States and around the world. Mass continues to write and record powerfully impressive songs with MASS style, driving hard rock with an edge and rocking melodies.In 2001, MASS wrote, performed, and continue to kick it! They completed work on their latest demo and hope to have it released sometime in 2002.In 2002, MASS won a coveted spot at NEMO (the Boston music showcase and industry convention), completed work on their next demo, and produced two songs with Michael Sweet of Stryper!In 2007, MASS re-releases New Birth on CD through Retrospect Records. They sign a 5-year record deal with Escape Records and release a new CD titled Crack of Dawn on June 25th!
Album:
Back in the 1980s, the scene of German Hard Rock was ruled by four bands: Scorpions, Accept and Warlock – most Heavy Metal fans do not need to be introduced to these. But there was one more group to rock the place until 1987 when it suddenly had to disband. In 2016 their bassist and sole constant member Günther Viktor Radny decided to bring the band back to live. By releasing their first album after the rebirth, Mass remind their fans that they have something to prove after over thirty years of silence. Although this album mainly consists of re-recorded versions of the band’s greatest hits, it is still exciting news. Mass are back and here’s their fresh record Still Chained.The music featured on Still Chained can bring many bands to mind: Guns’n’Roses, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Scorpions and Metalium, and the list goes on. This is also the first record by Mass as a five piece band – Radny decided to make the band’s creative output a bit more diverse by inviting Clemens Matejka to play keys – and fair play to him, as now the band represents yet another level of the genuine Hard Rock greatness.Although the production might leave a bit to be desired for those who like things polished, the band probably decided not to go for the modern sound in order to keep the old spirit alive. It does make the listener feel as if they were travelling back in time, although the guitars and bass could have more power to them. The album does not sound like a demo made by a bunch of teenagers, but lack of decent production may put some potential new fans off.The album is certainly full of decent lead parts as far as guitar and keyboards are concerned. Escpecially the second track Straight To Hell and the sixth one titled Devil’s Gate hav some quality organ solos in them. Fans of powerful guitar solos will very likely appreciate Time Runs Out, which is the twelveth song on the album. The band has also a couple of songs that were simply made to sing along with the audience, such as Shoot Out and Cry It Out, but the most exciting composition is the final one titled We Are Back – yes, this is one of the newly written songs. Matthias Pfaller who does the vocals sounds like a mix of Klaus Meine (Scorpions) and Valeriy Kipelov (Aria), which certainly is a very good thing. We Are Back is one of the most exciting songs this album has to offer. Not only music-wise, also because it gives the fans hope that new records featuring new songs will follow.Overall, Still Chained is over an hour of quality Hard Rock that certainly is worth checking. Maybe releasing this album will help Mass regain some of the popularity they enjoyed four decades ago. Also, considering how Günther Viktor Radny is the only member to have been in the band before the break-up, the release of Still Chained may also be seen as a big chance for the newly hired band members to step into the big industry, maybe with their own projects. But for now, let’s hope it is not the last album by Mass.
Line Up:
Matthias Pfaller (vocals)
Hannes Heid (guitar)
Clemens Matejka (keyboards)
Günther V. Radny (bass)
Andreas Gmeinwieser (drums)
Tracklist:
01. Back To The Music
02. Straight To Hell
03. Break Out
04. Kick Your Ass
05. Chained
06. Devil’s Gate
07. Restless
08. Dark Night
09. Shoot Out
10. Cry It Out
11. Born To Lose
12. Time Runs Out
13. War Law
14. It Is Done
15. We Are Back
+ Video "Back To The Music" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
