Album review: Master Sword—Shadow and Steel (2018)

Album: Shadow and Steel

Artist: Master Sword

Genre: Symphonic/fantasy metal

Label: Independent

Tracks: 10

Total time: 58:54

*Originally posted at the Female-Fronted Power Facebook page.*

For all the talk these days about the state of modern music and where the music industry is going, I still think that it is a pretty exciting time to be a music fan. Now, more than ever, the listener has more power to custom-fit their tastes to their liking. No longer limited to radio or other mainstream avenues to be force-fed the music we should like, the playing field is wide open and there is literally a musical genre for everything.

In the world of metal, this tailor-made customization has taken hold as well; many bands specializing in a particular theme. There is Alestorm, who writes all about pirates; or Battlelore, whose songs all center around the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. There are bands that write about nothing but Vikings or zombies or comic book heroes—if you are into something, it’s very likely there is a metal band right now writing the soundtrack for that thing.

Video games are another niche market that have found a home within metal and one of these bands who are taking this new genre and raising the bar is Master Sword, a “heavy metal Zelda tribute band”. Their music pays homage to The Legend of Zelda video game series, one of the most beloved video game franchises of all time for over 30 years.

It is apparent when you hear them that Master Sword knows their material well and that they all share a deep love and respect for these games. As a Zelda fan myself, I can appreciate the way they use familiar musical parts from the games to craft a heavy tune and to further embellish on the rich narrative of the stories within these games. With their 4-song debut EP Epoch, Master Sword managed to open the doors to Hyrule (and all its parallel universes) and unfolded its vast landscape through music. Now, after over 2 years, the band’s long-awaited full-length album is here. Shadow and Steel promises to live up to the long wait and big expectations and they do not disappoint.

From the second the opening track “Behind the Mirror” hits, Master Sword takes you and pulls you into the Zelda universe. The music is charged with a feeling of anticipation, as Lily Hoy’s wildly high vocals invite you on an adventure. “Let me Show You the Night” is both eerie and seductive; a play on the darkly-themed Twilight Princess game.

What I really love about Master Sword’s music is the way they incorporate bits and pieces of other Zelda theme music into songs that are based on another theme, such as the song “Tower of Stone”, which is a reference to my favorite Zelda game of all time, Majora’s Mask, and the Stone Tower Temple, a dungeon that has become a fan-favorite to play, even among those who do not cite this as a favorite game. This near 7-minute track is filled with ambiance (I especially love the ’70s-style keyboards; very prog!), especially if you have played these games before and know the references. Even if you haven’t, the lyrics set up the visuals to where one could almost see the old, decaying tower that holds the ancient secrets of the dead.

Of course, Master Sword is not all about leaning on Zelda riffs. Much of their material is original stuff, with a few bits and pieces of Zelda themes peppered in or lyrics that are direct references to games, such as the songs “Kiss of the Flame” and “Beneath the Skin”, both of which have a good deal of original material, but also incorporate some well-known riffs from the games Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, respectively.

However, they would not call themselves a “Zelda tribute band” for nothing: songs like “Sanctuary”, “Master of the Seas” and “Isle of the Sky Spirits” are all songs that heavily incorporate themes from various games, tugging at the heartstrings of every ’80s and ’90s kid who grew up with these games and still love them today. I know I felt a little bit of nostalgia when the song “Master of the Seas” ended with the memorable “Song of Time”, a theme any Zelda fan will know immediately.  

The music, like the games, is very epic in scope; such as “Beneath the Skin” and “Master if the Seas”, the two songs that clock in at just under 9 minutes. However, this grandeur is never more apparent than when Master Sword goes full-on Zelda and covers the iconic “Hyrule Field” theme. If you have ever played the game Ocarina of Time (deemed one of the greatest video games of all time and the most beloved of the Zelda franchise by many fans), this music is instantly familiar to you, as Master Sword takes that open-world sense of adventure and revs it up, making that feeling of wonder even more exciting and inspiring. In just a little over 4 minutes, Master Sword manages to capture all that same power and majesty of the 8 or 9-minute songs. You almost feel like jumping on the back of a horse and riding across the open lands! The final track, “My Destined One”, is also another Zelda theme done Master Sword-style; this one a take on the theme from the most current Zelda game, Breath of the Wild, a gentle, mellow acoustic ballad that wraps up the album nicely.

Overall, if you are a fan of the Zelda games, then Master Sword has a lot here for you to enjoy. You will recognize parts of various games and the references in their lyrics will be easy to understand. However, even if you are not a fan of the games or have not played them much, you can still enjoy Master Sword’s music, because they are a damn good band. The riffs are heavy, the musical style leans more towards progressive or symphonic metal and Lily’s voice is one that needs to be heard to be believed. Her voice is just insane (I mean this in a good way)! If you like heavy music with a bit of a “soundtrack” feel, then Master Sword is worth checking out. You may feel like you have stepped inside a video game when you are listening to Shadow and Steel, because it does make for great game-play music. If Master Sword existed in Hyrule, they might possibly even make Tingle do his special fairy dance. Koo-loo Limpah!

*Thanks to Henk van Nieuwenhoven at Female-Fronted Power.

*Special thanks to Matt Farkas for providing all photos.

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*This review is dedicated to the memory of Zellie Blake: 1982-2010.*

“Whenever there is a meeting, a parting shall follow. But that parting needs not last forever. Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short while...that is up to you.”

—The Happy Mask Salesman, Majora's Mask

Femme-Metal Friday: Master Sword “Sanctuary”

Band photo

For the second week of Femme-Metal Friday, I'm going back to one of my favorites: Master Sword, the Legend of Zelda tribute band from Baltimore. They did not start out as a female-fronted band—their debut EP, Epoch, featured an array of talented vocalists, both male and female—but that all changed once vocalist Lily Hoy became a permanent fixture to the lineup in April 2016. Since then, the band continues to build a diversified audience: whether it is performing at gaming or comic book conventions, playing gigs with other similar tribute bands (who would have guessed that there was an entire local scene just for “video game music tribute bands”?!), or securing a slot at Baltimore's premiere femme-metal festival, Flight of the Valkyries; Master Sword is appealing to every demographic out there.

While the band continues work on their full-length album, Shadow and Steel, Master Sword has given fans a little taste of what they can expect with their latest lyric video for the song “Sanctuary”. The song is based on the Sanctuary theme from the classic game A Link to the Past from the early ’90s.

While all Zelda fans have their favorites in the series, A Link to the Past is a beloved game in the Zelda community for much the same reason as the eponymous first game, or Ocarina of Time: it is one of those iconic games that for many fans, was the first Zelda game they ever learned to play, or the game that got them interested in the franchise. It is a game that is rife with nostalgia for an entire generation of gamers, so if you are going to pay homage to something so cherished, expectations will be high; and if it isn't done right, you face the wrath of many angry fans who don't take kindly to having their childhood memories “trampled on”, or “disrespected”. No pressure, right?

Just like the hero in the green tunic that wields the weapon that gives the band its name, Master Sword is up to the challenge. After all, they are fans, too. These games mean as much to them as they do everyone else, and they show nothing but the highest respect for the source material in everything they do. Even for a simple lyric video that for some bands is no more than text with a run-of-the-mill backdrop, Master Sword cuts no corners in making the audience feel as if they have just stepped inside of an adventurous quest.

From the moment those dark, ominous tones kick in, the dungeon theme is instantly recognizable, and I can almost see the scary enemies lurking in the corners and almost feel inclined to look over my shoulder! Imagery of ink drawings of Link on aged parchment paper, misty visions of ethereal Sages, dim torchlight down a dark corridor, and the shadowy silhouette of Ganon (the antagonist of the series, or one of his forms, anyway!), all complement the eerie tone of the song.

For more information on Master Sword, visit the band's official Facebook page.

Hump Day Hot Ticket: Master Sword “Isle of the Sky Spirits”

Band photo

If you are a fan of The Legend of Zelda video game franchise, as I am, then the month of March is an exciting time. Breath of the Wild, the first new Zelda game for a major console in over 5 years is just days away. Another event that is just as exciting but isn't getting nearly as much press: the video premiere of “Isle of the Sky Spirits”, the first single from Master Sword's upcoming full-length debut, Shadow and Steel.

Who is Master Sword? If you are new here, then you probably don't know that I have written about them before. Master Sword is a power metal band from Maryland that pays tribute to The Legend of Zelda in their music: either by writing lyrics pertaining to Zelda lore, or composing metal versions of beloved Zelda themes. It is clear that the band has strong knowledge of the games and understands the material in ways that only the most hardcore Zelda fan could (and they can get pretty intense!). Most of all, you can hear the love and respect they have for the games and their creators. Master Sword seeks to take you on a journey through Hyrule (and all its parallel universes), encouraging listeners to step inside of Link's green tunic and live out his adventures with him.

So then, it stands to reason that for the band's first video, they want to do exactly that, and not only bring the familiar sights and sounds of the Zelda universe to fans who already love and enjoy the series, but also to share this world with the metal fanbase who may not necessarily know about Zelda or video games. It's quite a fine line to walk: you want the references to be detailed enough for the biggest fans to instantly recognize, but also simplistic enough to where the most casual observer can still follow along.

Master Sword manages to strike this balance perfectly. The video begins with a shot of waves gently lapping on the shore, and the band instantly kicks into a heavy jam of the Dragon Roost Island theme, an integral piece of music from The Wind Waker—a Zelda game whose story centers on a world submerged in water, and the few islands that rose from the flood to sustain the lives that remained.

If you have read my previous reviews about Master Sword, then you will know that their first EP featured vocal duties from several different singers, including Thrillkiller's Rob Bradley, and Nina Osegueda from A Sound of Thunder. If you know what powerful voices those two have, then you know that whoever the band chose to recruit for a full-time vocalist had to be someone who was really gonna knock your socks off, because they are a tough act to follow!

From the moment that Master Sword's frontwoman Lily Hoy opens her mouth, her voice roars out and makes it apparent that not only can she hold her own with either of the aforementioned singers, but her vocals are so powerful that the speakers on my little phone can barely handle it! She is dressed in a green ensemble of her own, and her eye makeup is painted in the design of the Sheikah tribe, the protectors of Hyrule's royal family, and keepers of the monarchy's darkest secrets. (This reference will have meaning later.)

Meanwhile, we see a hooded figure in a green tunic and the trademark Hylian Shield, and we know it is Link walking along the sandy shores. The other bandmembers are wearing pendants of the Hylian Shield to further emphasize the reference. Most of the video alternates between shots of the band performing, and quick glimpses of “Link” wielding his sword, or standing very hero-like by the shore. We never see the two parties meet, but as Link walks along, we see the bandmembers (minus Lily) standing on a hill, dressed in hooded cloaks just like the Seven Sages that guard the Sacred Realm, where Hyrule's main center of power resides: the Triforce. As the Link character approaches closer, the music turns to a more faithful rendition of the Dragon Roost Island theme; a more classical sound reminiscent of merry minstrels and wandering troubadours. When Link reaches the cloaked figures and doffs his own hood, my inner Zelda geek rejoices as I see the trademark blue Ocarina of Time. As Link takes the Ocarina and holds it to his lips, Master Sword saves the best surprise for last by making reference to the greatest Zelda plot twist in the franchise's history.

For more information on Master Sword, or to purchase Shadow and Steel, visit the band's official website.

Special thanks to Matt Farkas.

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*This review is dedicated to the memory of Zellie Blake: 1982-2010.*

“Whenever there is a meeting, a parting shall follow. But that parting needs not last forever. Whether a parting be forever or merely for a short while...that is up to you.”

—The Happy Mask Salesman, Majora's Mask

Hump Day Hot Ticket: Master Sword “Behind the Mirror (The Dark World)”

Master Sword band photo

For this week's Hump Day Hot Ticket, I'm featuring a band that I've written about here before and whose music I enjoy for various reasons: Baltimore-based Master Sword, whose music is an ongoing tribute to The Legend of Zelda video games. Whether they are melodies based on in-game music, or lyrics pertaining to the mythology of the series, Master Sword brings the world of Hyrule (and all its varying parallel universes) to life through music, surely as Link manipulates time and space with his trusty ocarina.

This video is the first single from their upcoming album, due for release in the next several months. It features a guest vocalist whom I have also written about before: Rob Bradley, formerly of Aries and currently of Thrillkiller, he has a set of pipes that are certainly a gift from the Golden Goddesses. In this video, the bandmembers (which includes Jesse Keen from A Sound of Thunder, yet another band I have written about in extensive detail) are shown jamming on their instruments while Rob is at the mic delivering his epic vocals. Master Sword's musicianship is as intricate as a Zelda dungeon puzzle, and as imaginative as a Hyrulean tale.

Now that the band has recruited vocalist Lily Taylor to the mix, it will be interesting to hear how the rest of the album unfolds. But for now, take a listen to “Behind the Mirror (The Dark World)”, a song based on a musical piece from the game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Enjoy!

Mini-review: Master Sword—Epoch (EP) (2015)

 

 Epoch album cover

Album: Epoch

Artist: Master Sword

Genre: Power metal

Tracks: 4

Total time: 20:02

Since I write primarily about music on this site, I don't get the chance very often to talk about my interests or hobbies outside of music, so few of you (if any) know little to nothing about other things that I like.

Like many metal fans, I am a huge fan of video games (however, as I do not own the newest and latest consoles, I cannot in good conscience call myself a gamer, as much as I would like to). One of my favorite video game series of all time is The Legend of Zelda series. Link has been my constant companion for nearly 30 years, ever since I was 8 or 9 years old. In many respects he is the perfect man: he never speaks, and he is always willing and ready to lend a helping hand to a lady! He also has a bad-boy streak: he loves to go into the homes of strangers and smash their pottery to take the money they have hidden in there. He goes into battle fearlessly and never hesitates to take on any favor asked of him, no matter how great or small.

Like any other man, he also has his faults: chickens are his Achilles' heel, and he has a penchant for sleeping in. Sometimes he also tends to hang out with the wrong crowd, like annoying little fairies that are yelling, “hey, listen!” in his ear every 5 seconds; or playing games with masked children who want to destroy the world. But he is kind to animals, is a true-blue friend who can ride a horse, sail a boat, and travel through time. His spirit reincarnates through several timelines and alternate universes. He's the only man who can wield the Master Sword. He is the destined hero of Hyrule. Link is a certified bad-ass.

So then, with all of these epic qualifications, it only stands to reason that The Legend of Zelda works perfectly with power metal. They both share many similar attributes. Much as I love the Zelda soundtracks, I also find that listening to power metal when playing the games works nicely as well. There are certain albums that just work with the ambiance of Zelda games, and one of my favorite things about playing a new Zelda game is finding that perfect album to complement it.

Apparently, I must not be the only one who does this, because one power metal band has taken it a step further. What Battlelore is to Tolkien's writing, Master Sword is to the Zelda games. This is a band dedicated to writing songs based on the Zelda series; either elaborating on the tales told in the games, or giving a metal version of a beloved theme, Master Sword is meeting the demand of combining the worlds of Zelda and of power metal, because they belong together and it is actually quite surprising that this hasn't already been done.

Calling upon their fellow musicians in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, Master Sword has put together a roster of talent to bring these songs to life and to bring Zelda fans that much closer to Hyrule.

 “The Mountain (One Last Fight)”: From the moment the opening notes begin, you are instantly transported to the landscape of Hyrule, if you are a Zelda fan. You can almost see it right before your eyes as you hear the music: you can see the rolling green hills of Hyrule Field, you sense the looming shadow of Death Mountain at your back, you can hear the lapping waters of Lake Hylia, and you can smell the scent of grass and hay from Lon-Lon Ranch. The chiming bells, the rising of the music makes you feel as if you are beginning an adventure. Then, a metal guitar riff of the iconic Zelda theme tells you exactly where you are. Chad Keyser (from the band Wild Storm) tells a tale of a young hero scaling a mountain to his destiny through his high-pitched screams. The song ebbs and flows, punctuated by fast, hard riffing, and then calming down to cadenced drumming and the chanting sing-song of The Goddess Choir.

 “The Forsaken Tribe”: The first song I heard from Master Sword, this heavy rendition of the Gerudo Valley theme tells the story of the all-female tribe of bad-ass pirates. Who better to sing their song than the Queen of Hell herself, A Sound of Thunder's own Nina Osegueda? There is only one male born to the Gerudo tribe every 100 years, and it just so happens he is the King of Evil, Link's arch-nemesis, Ganondorf. The Gerudo Valley theme is very Western in feel; it sounds like something you'd hear in a cowboy movie, and Master Sword kicks it up to the next level by adding in that dramatic power metal flair, coupled with Nina's insane vocals. The Gerudos are no-nonsense, take-charge kind of women, and somehow I can see Nina fitting in perfectly with them!

 “A Terrible Fate”: The familiar sounds that make up my favorite Zelda game, Majora's Mask, start off this track, and then the band rips it up seconds later, with a progressive-flavored jam for the ages. You can almost feel the sense of urgency as the clock ticks down in Termina and the band plays a variation of the boss battle music. The voice of Aries vocalist Rob Bradley comes in to tell us about the impending doom if you haven't noticed the giant moon descending to earth! You've only got 3 days to save the world, and you need to find as many masks as possible to make sure the world of Termina doesn't meet their impending doom. No pressure! In case you haven't read my previous reviews about Aries, then perhaps I should tell you that Rob's giant voice is perfect to represent the story of the 4 giants trying to hold back the moon from crashing into humanity.

“Legends”: The final track is much calmer and more mellow than the others; the Goddess Choir female voices are very Celtic-sounding, and the music is sparse and simple. Slow percussion, lovely guitars, and the strong female vocals. This song tells the tale of how Hyrule was submerged underwater so as to keep Ganondorf from rising and ruling again. Just when you think the song is going to end on a slow note, the band comes back in to give a rousing interpretation of the classic Legend of Zelda theme, complete with guitars and keyboards going back and forth in another prog-style rock-out; ending much the same way the EP began.

Overall opinion: If you are a Legend of Zelda fan, you owe it to yourself to check out Master Sword, even if you do not consider yourself a fan of rock or metal music. Zelda fans around the world have paid tribute to the works of Koji Kondo by putting their own spin on the music, and this is far more than just a rock version of the Zelda theme, or game music done with guitars. Lyrics are written that tell the listener a story, so that even for those who are not fans of the game or who are not familiar with the story can still follow along. You can tell by listening to this that these guys are fans of the games, obviously; but you can also tell that these are fans that know the source material and not only pay proper homage to it, but embellish it further with their own interpretation (much like the many “fan theory” videos that run rampant on the internet, which I admit I love to watch). What I love about power/progressive/symphonic metal more than any other genres, is the ability the music has to unfurl visions through the music. When you listen to each song, you can see the world of Hyrule (or Termina, in the case of “A Terrible Fate”) opening up before your eyes. You almost want to grab your ocarina and jam along! Maybe this is just me, as I am a fan of the games and through the various riffs here and there that are reminiscent of game music, I can easily envision the places that the music is referring to; but I would like to think that even the average listener can envision the fantasy world that Master Sword is painting with their music. If you listen to “The Forsaken Tribe” and honestly cannot envision a Gerudo warrior woman brandishing her double scimitars, or if you cannot feel the suffocating dread of uncertainty when you listen to “A Terrible Fate”, then either you have never played the Zelda games, or if you have, maybe you need to play them again because you haven't been paying attention! For only being 4 songs, this EP is a solid piece of work and I would love to hear a full-length album from Master Sword one of these days. There is 3 decades' worth of material for them to work with, so it's certainly a possibility!

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Special thanks to Nina Osegueda & Rob Bradley