This, the debut album from Swedish coalition Master Massive, is... erm... massive! It was in the making since 1993. That is 22 years, people. 'The Pendulum' contains over 70 minutes of metal music, that is well rooted in 1970s and 1980s.

Master Massive is helmed by guitarist/vocalist Jan Strandh. He wrote almost all of the music, and majority of the lyrics. This is a story album, and tells a story of unbalanced world, which is caused by three different gods' imprisonment on Earth. The mankind is struggling under the spell of evil darkness, but then a special guy was given given a mission to restore the balance by halting the pendulum, that causes imbalance. The tale contains loads of references to real world's negative changes. This kind of a concept was rather typical in 1970s avant-garde and progressive rock circles. And what we get here is hilariously stupid character names. What a surprise, eh?! Anyway, the story is big and the album is long, so how does it all work, then?

Most of this album is about heavy metal. The album begins with doomier vibe, only to revisit it later on 'Sovereign Power' and 'Dark Prophecy', which is probably the heaviest song on offer. The doomy songs are, for some reason, a bit bland. The latter ones are certainly not very varying, but 'Time out of Mind' already shows more proggy side of the songwriting, containing quite many parts. Finest example of prog-influenced songwriting is 'Eye of Silence', which is the gem here. If you can think of a mixture with Therion's 'Gothic Kabbalah' (2007), Swedish doomy heavy metal, Some Falconer, a bit of Grand Magus, even King Diamond and "metal operas" from Aina and Ayreon (not only because of many vocalists, mind you), you get the heavier side of the music covered pretty well. This is so very Swedish sounding stuff. Just check out 'Wishing Well' and its massive chorus! By the way, there are many great, anthemic choruses on this album.

There are a couple of links to Therion here: Drummer Petter Karlsson and vocalist Katarina Lilja both appeared on that earthy album 'Gothic Kabbalah'. Petter's drumming is similar here, and Katarina's beautiful voice is inimitable. However, some bits in compositions remind me of that album too, e.g. 'Four Dreams', 'Eye of Silence', and galloping 'The Media Palace'. Petter plays a small role too, but it is him who puts out overacted, silly and icky show. More about other vocalists later.

Guitar work is very varying. From sturdy power chords to fast picking, with myriad of lead guitar and solos to get tangled to. The player are skilled, going from true heavy metal to progressive performances. The drums are varying, there's no doubt about it, but always powerful. Do not expect double kick drumming, though. This has lively bass playing, and a bass solo, too. Keyboards are in vein of prog rock and older heavy metal, of course, and nothing like modern tinkling stuff. Production-wise this is organic and with feel of yore. It's powerful yet very clear, but not plastic at all. Very vibrant, briefly put.

Then the non-metal bits. There's aplenty of them. First, the story needed, I presume, some interludes. These are bad for fluidity of the album. I wish they were only printed in the booklet (contains the whole story and suitable drawings), and never made in aural form. 'The Monastery' presents some medieval music, but turns into a metal song later on. Classical guitar and vocals are heard on 'Dear Aadham'. Folk rock is also present on a few songs, most distinctly on flowery and beautiful 'Broken Hearts'. Prog rock plays a big role on the album. It appears frequently here and there. Some few ambient soundscapes have been added.

Oh yeah, those other vocalists... Peo Pettersson (of Leviticus) reminds me of Tarot's and Nightwish's Marco Hietala. Tony Niva (e.g Lion's Share) and Erik Forsberg are more typical heavy/power metal voices, but good at that, actually very good performances here and there. Öivin Tronstad has more hard rock voice. Jan Strandh has a darker voice, well fitting with others, but it's not heard that often. The only true overactor is Petter. Gladly his role is rather small... It would have been nice to her more vocalists singing together, as there is now (3 voices together on 'Showdown', then 2 voices in some songs). It just sounds so much more epic, you know!

'The Pendulum' is like a B movie; partly works hellishly well, but also stumbles like a drunken elephant. The story/music doesn't flow perfectly, but the whole is pretty damn characteristic. However, the actors are far better than on many a B movie. One who dives into this, surely needs some adventuring spirit!

Rating: 7- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
01/13/2016 23:35