Source: Album Artwork
TOOTHGRINDER, American four piece who reside in Asbury Park, New Jersey bring something new to the scene. They try to achieve a broader spectrum in their music by developing inventive riffs and creative extended instrumental sections which often take on a different persona to when the vocals are the main focus element. Forming in 2010 TOOTHGRINDER have been titled the ‘best heavy rock band’ in the Asbury Park music awards. Nocturnal Masquerade is their latest album offering heavy riffs and rhythms with that occasional lighter touch.
Right from the beginning of the album, TOOTHGRINDER offer tracks of high intensity packed with punchy riffs and and dark brisk vocals with the occasional inclusion of lighter more harmonious backing vocals. In the opening track ‘The house (that fear built)’ a brooding guitar solo opens the album which seems reminiscent of a dark desert scene with almost Arabic undertones that the riff embodies. Along with intense lead vocals which have a very gruff tone and are often fired very quickly, there are times when this tone seems less fierce when songs lead into musical interludes. For example in ‘Lace and anchor’ as the vocals drop out and the drum rhythms become less frenzied and take a a more heavy blues focus as the guitar complies in a soulful collaboration evoking a very powerful solo from what was a very harsh track.
The interaction of the vocals can best be seen in the track ‘Blue’ where you hear the lead vocalists strong crackled voice with the backing vocalist varying between singing and an eerie style of whisper vocals which suits the mood of the song. The overall two different styles fit together very well especially with the ricocheting rhythm which bounces from one beat to the next as well as the beats in between with a good use of syncopation.
Nocturnal Masquerade isn’t your typical metal album, there are breaks from vocals for melodic technicality and variation on how the vocals are exploited, definitely worth a listen.
