Album Review: Mass Sky Raid - Science Of Fiction

This Gold Coast four-piece have been crafting their typically Aussie, alternative/progressive rock songs for quite a few years now, and doing it rather well, it must be said.

All the elements that make up this style of music, a style trailblazed by The Butterfly Effect and then perfected by the likes of Karnivool and Dead Letter Circus, are here in droves: the dark tones offset by soaring melodies, the high-level musicianship, the ambient and textural guitar lines and the impassioned vocals phrasing lyrics of self-awareness, human struggle and rising above challenges.

It all comes together to best effect on mid-album Chemical Design, which shows off MSR's sound grasp of harmony and dynamics beautifully. Closer Oceans rounds things off in hard-hitting but melodic style. Dream lives up to its title with its astral soundscapes setting up a rather large and dramatic chorus.

If there is a constructive criticism to be levelled at this band it's that, on their next release, it would be that they took some serious pains to truly separate themselves from the myriad other acts that have ploughed this musical terrain over the last 10 to 15 years, to really develop their own unique character and voice, while still appealing to fans of this genre.

Overall however, this is a very ear-pleasing listen, and well worth 38 minutes of your time to check out.