EMISSARY - The Wretched Masquerade

#review

BAND Emissary

ALBUM “The Wretched Masquerade"

LABEL Underground Power Records

OUT May 27th, 2022

OUR RATING 86/100

“The Wretched Masquerade" comes out on CD in May on UNDERGROUND POWER RECORDS.

Formed in 1989 and reformed after relocating to Oregon in '93.

After a long hiatus, a new line-up of EMISSARY recorded "No Time To Lose" for an unreleased Lizzy Borden Tribute CD “Baptized In Blood" in 2008.

Members of the classic lineup are officially reunited last year.

Talented singer of this band is Jym Harris, well-known on our pages for SYLENT STORM band.

EMISSARY didn’t manage to release a full-length album back in their 90s days, they were quite active with lots of demos and many local performances.

Even though “The Wretched Masquerade” is their debut full-lenght, most of the songs were taken from the band’s late 90’s demos, but re-recorded with a new line up and enriched by a contemporary powerful production.

The fist shot is THE SILENT TREATMENT, a great example of US Power Hm/Classic HM, enhanced by a roaring riffing and a brilliant solo.

CHEMICAL HATRED is another right shot, while HYPOCHONDRIAC starts more squared, growing second after second; we liked it..remembering the approach of masters such as METAL CHURCH.

They go on with IN SOLITUDE, powerful and self-confident, followed by heavier RULER OF DEFIANCE, one of our favorite.

OUT FOR REACH is opened by an instrumental part before exploding, while CRASH & BURN sounds classic, enriched by epic elements.

PINE BOX.. is the last song that ends in the best way this long-awaited debut! TO SUGGEST!!

LINE UP

JYM HARRIS VC

TIM "MOTHMAN" DAHLEN GT BV

CHARLIE FRANCIPANE GT

PETER SHAWN KINNEY BG BV

ERIC HOOVER DR

TRACKLIST

THE SILENT TREATMENT

CHEMICAL HATRED

HYPOCHONDRIAC

IN SOLITUDE

RULER OF DEFIANCE

OUT OF REACH

CRASH & BURN

PINE BOX (THE ART OF WAR)

Bonus tracks: (disc 2 for deluxe version)

THE SILENT TREATMENT ('94 DEMO)

IN SOLITUDE ('94 DEMO)

CRASH & BURN (DEMO)

CHEMICAL HATRED (DEMO)

OUT OF REACH (DEMO)

PINE BOX ('95 DEMO)

RULER OF DEFIANCE (DEMO)

IN SOLITUDE ('95 DEMO)

ALL IN VAIN (INSTRUMENTAL DEMO)

BETRAYAL (DEMO)

DON'T CALL ME (DEMO)

THE SILENT TREATMENT ('93 DEMO)

PINE BOX ('93 DEMO)

OUT OF REACH (Live In '95)

CHEMICAL HATRED (Live In '95)