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MASTER MASSIVE “White Shadows”
MASTER MASSIVE “White Shadows”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Wow! I almost passed this one by as it looked like “just another metal record”. What a tragic mistake that would have been, because MASTER MASSIVE, who previously have been totally unknown to me, have conjured forth the best “true metal” album I have heard thus far in 2026. If you could imagine a combination of the best aspects of CANDLEMASS and HAMMERFALL, that would be what MASTER MASSIVE sounds like here!
The band uses not one, not two, but THREE lead vocalists to make their attack and all of them are worthy. It’s not clear who sings lead on which track, but I didn’t hear anything but classic metal/power metal brilliance from all three of them. The band makes a bold choice by starting the record with their longest, most epic tune “Noah’s Cross” and they knock it out of the park. Beginning with a great power-packed riff, this tune is pure class and wanders through many killer sections reminiscent of CANDLEMASS, KING DIAMOND, HAMMERFALL and early QUEENSRYCHE. It takes a lot of talent to live up to inspirations like that and MASTER MASSIVE handle that challenge easily.
All 7 tracks here are worthy of being on the album, with no useless filler or time-wasting intros. I particularly liked the steel-plated punch of “Jonah And The Whale” and “Silver Bullet”, which deliver power metal without the fluff and keyboards. The band also leans into progressive realms on the title track and “Blood On The Floor”, which brings about a whiff of the earliest FATES WARNING as well.
The album is impeccably produced and played. I really liked the LEX LEGION debut earlier in the year and yet “White Shadows” surpasses it. Do not let MASTER MASSIVE disappear into the sea of typical power metal releases…this deserves a better fate!
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