MAYFAIR - Schlage Mein Herz, Schlage... (Pure Prog Records)

Surrealistic Prog Metallers from Austria are back with an album that was long awaited. This is a new born creation of the band since the reunion. After almost 15 years of silence  Mayfair finished their new album “Schlage mein Herz, schlage…”. The band which wrote Metal underground history with their 1993 album “Behind”, were fascinating bright stars on the music heaven in the 1990s, but unfortunately only for a short time. But their history continues: founding members Mario (vocals) and Rene (guitars) have got together with Johannes and Jolly (bass and drums) releasing their new album “Schlage mein Herz, schlage….

One fact is sure in here: we got a deep, inspired album, full of melodies, full of emotions, full of sound colors. The psychedelic guitars are drawing musical landscapes in dark and melancholic  colors bringing into front a sound vortex that would drive the listener straight into the 70s sound paths that Pink Floyd once crossed when released their most mysterious tunes. 

The record's musical range is very wide, so get ready to come across many musical influences as you are taking your trip into the album. There is often a minimalistic musical approach to many song's parts but this approach is just one piece of the atmospheric puzzle that the band is creating with the music of this record. On the other hand there are parts that are acting like real explosions of melody and passion, so it is obvious that those two opposite directions -minimalistic parts, rich and explosive parts- are finally combined to a unique result. 

The melodies are so strong and the vocals are so passionate, but you know that fact does not surprise me. This is actually what Mayfair was about: melody and passion. The familiar Mayfair melody lines are here and for those that are already into the band's discography I may add that this album stands somewhere between “Die Flucht” and “Fastest Trip to Cyber-Town”: it is raw, it is wild sometimes, but is is also calm and very emotional.

If you are searching for a melancholic, progressive, musical trip, go for this album.

 http://www.mayfairbrigade.com/

Chris Papadakis