Flux

Strange! What a strange record! After the first play I was totally lost. Are we talking of hard rock, alternative, rock or progressive music here? Honestly, even after many plays, I am still lost, but the more I listen to it, the "funniest" I found this Flux. Funny and not bad at all! Flux is the third record of Masquerade. Back in 1992, when they released Masquerade (first album), this band was compared to Whitsnake & Def Leppard. As I didn't have their previous record, I can't really judge. However, I have listened carefully this Flux and even though there is some Def Leppard sounds here and there, Masquerade is playing a kind of new hard rock, which sounds more like Bon Jovi or Aerosmith. Sometime they sound like King X and a few second later like Metallica (Load & Reload). Didn't I tell you this is a strange record! These Swedish guys have decided to work with engineer Nicklas Sjöberg (Talisman) and both sound and production are excellent. Fresh, quite melodic, alternative metal combined with heavy guitars, this is the kind of record you love or you hate. For sure you will need many plays before entering Masquerade's world. Fans of alternative metal or Pain Of Salvation should check this one. But keep in mind Masquerade is less heavier and less progressive compare to Pain Of Salvation. At the end and after many plays, I would define Masquerade between Pain Of Salvation, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi. But of course, this is just a picture, not a statement.