Origin:	USA
Genres:	Progressive Metal

Subterranean Masquerade

A highly original and ambitious project founded by one Tomer Pink, Subterranean Masquerade debuted in 2004 with a two-track, 17-minute EP, and a year later came out with Suspended Animation Dreams, both on the highly respected The End Records. Labelling this band as metal would be misleading -- the music here derives from a multitude of influences, metal being one of them, but also progressive rock and even some jazz can be found here, with liberal use of strings and piano as well as horns and other assorted eclectic instruments. It might seem strange that a band with such diverse influences employ a death vocalist, but it works -- Paul Kuhr (who also fronts Novembers Doom) provides his effective growls, but his is by no means the only vocals to be found, with assorted choirs and clean male and female guests also making their presence felt. There really is no soundalike here -- if one is pressed to name a similar band (and this is a reach), one might mention Maudlin Of The Well, though by no means are these really similar bands. Tomer Pink is on to something here, as Suspended Animation Dreams is a rich, involved, and diverse listen, even if there is little in the way of conventional metal. Very well done.