Review by Felix on November 7, 2019.

Some bands are really exciting. They modify or change their style constantly and you never know what you get when buying their new output. Sometimes this concept works, but I must say that groups like Ketzer or Tribulation committed musical suicide while following the strange dogma of never-ending change. Mystic Prophecy do not join the ranks of the formations that are always driven by a desire for change. Quite the opposite, they are representatives of the conservative protagonists that preach the "more of the same" ideology. This might be less exciting and sometimes this principle stinks. However, it lends the dudes authenticity and it makes them to reliable partners of their followers - and I like reliability in any kind of relationship. Please be aware that any kind of unexpected trouble endangers my health!

Conservative - this term also describes their style very well. Mystic Prophecy play generic heavy metal, the lyrics are filled to the brim with stereotypes and the song patterns pray to the verse-chorus-verse Gods. The endless repetition can raise the question whether one should buy more than one album of the band. Well, the answer is simple. Each and every album of the band holds a certain number of good songs. This does not rule out a slightly lame start. "Follow the Blind" and "Metal Brigade" fail to deliver the necessary degree of aggression. But the generally speaking, the experienced group is able to combine the main pillars of classic heavy metal, power and melodies, in a clever manner. "The Crucifix" shows the skills of Mystic Prophecy impressively. The guitars create a very good flow, the rather gentle verses lead smoothly to the catchy chorus. The lyrics are nonsensical ("six six six crucifix"), but this kind of poetry has an almost folkloric touch. Mystic Prophecy are not able or not willing to write other lyrics and at the end of the day, it does not matter at all.

Of greater importance is the fact that songs like "Pray to Hell" or "Good Day to Die" demonstrate the force of typical heavy metal. The formula stays the same: the songs are easily accessible; the chorus is put in the focus and melodic lines are well embedded into a heavily rocking framework. The voluminous voice of the lead singer does not lack charisma and therefore Mystic Prophecy do not need to shy away from comparison with their competitors. Okay, their emotional sections are always going wrong (the beginning of the sixth track is terrible) and it is beyond my imagination that the dudes will ever release a 90+X % album. Nevertheless, they manage their main tasks skillfully while offering very robust, crusty headbangers such as "The Devil Is Back" - and they know how their music must sound. As a consequence, the production is once again a strong argument for the purchase of this output. On the one hand, it lends the music a powerful, clean and well-defined appearance, on the other hand, it makes clear that the band has a professional attitude and knows what its fans want to hear. Okay, I miss a new "Evil Empires", the thrashing highlight of their discography, but this is probably my personal problem. In a nutshell, I still buy the outputs of Mystic Prophecy, but I have turned my back on many chameleonic formations. Spiritual metal brothers stand united, regardless of the fact that all that glitters is not gold.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by TheOneNeverSeen on January 1, 2024.

While looking for the original of "We Are Number One" in YouTube Music, I came across Tardigrade Inferno’s cover of that song (that was before I even started listening to metal). That was one of the few times in my life when not finding what I was originally looking for was truly blissful. I wouldn’t say I fell in love with the band instantly, but after a while I’ve decided to listen to more of their music. And the more songs I have listened to, the more I got into the band’s unique and crazy sound. Even now, a year or so after I heard "Mastermind" for the first time, I still adore this album and consider it one of the best metal albums ever made.

First of all, I would like to note the album’s stunning sound. The dirty and powerful yet not too raw guitars alongside the sinister keyboards create an engrossing atmosphere of madness you would expect from a Burton’s movie. Darya’s vocals contribute significantly to this mood. I don’t think there is any vocalist who would perform better on this album than her. Her beautiful, compelling vocals conveying all sorts of emotions are an essential part of Tardigrade Inferno’s sound.

The songwriting is exceptionally appropriate. Not a single song feels too short or too long. Virtually ALL riffs are cool at least and mind-blowing at most (my favorite ones would be the ones of "Hypnosis", "All Pigs Are the Same" and "Mastermind"). The song structure is pretty simple, but the remarkability of the riffs, intros and solos definitely outweighs t. The cover versions of SOAD’s "Marmalade", The Doors’ "Alabama Song" and, obviously, the aforementioned "We Are Number One" fit the album perfectly (back in the day, when I didn’t know the first two were covers (yeah, I used to be veery ignorant, but a lot of stuff has changed since then!), I deemed them awesome and not disrupting the album’s flow at all).

One of my favorite things about Tardigrade Inferno (and this album specifically) is the lyrics. While most of the time they tell creepy and witty stories ("Hypnosis", "All Pigs Are the Same", "Mastermind"), sometimes they focus on darker and more global themes. I absolutely love the lyrics and message of "Dreadful Song" and the dark concept of "Clown Therapy". "Mastermind" doesn't have any songs with weak or boring lyrics, which is a significant advantage, especially considering the vocals are "clean" most of the time and you can thus appreciate the lyrics as you listen to the album.

Lastly, I would like to compliment the album's astonishing cover artwork. Not only does it generally look awesome and fit the music's mood perfectly, but is also great conceptually. As someone who likes references a lot, I find the idea of merging elements of the singles' covers (you can find them on the band's Bandcamp) into the one of the album is really cool and also unusual.

Long story short, "Mastermind" is (no pun intended) a masterpiece. Not too complex, yet remarkable and outstanding.

Rating: 10 out of 10