SUBMASQ is on the cusp of a new era.
Known as Subterranean Masquerade since 1997, the band is formalizing its new identity with a cover EP in early 2026, but Davidavi “Vidi” Dolev (vocals), Golan Farhi (bass), Tomer Pink (guitar), Yalon Schori (drums), Or Shalev (guitar), and Shai Yallin (keyboards/effects/handpan) aren’t stopping there, as they’ve signed with Willowtip Records to bring us Spirit Animal, their fifth album.
The band is joined live by Dima Kogan (guitar) and enlisted the help of percussionists and traditional instrument players for the album.
The album opens with Cardamom, a track that starts off fairly upbeat with Eastern-inspired sounds, eventually joined by the intensity of distinct prog patterns that become intriguing when the vocalist steps in, adding his lively and, above all, vibrant touch to what is, all things considered, a fairly calm composition. Notable is a guest appearance by guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (formerly of Sons of Apollo and Guns N’ Roses) for a haunting solo before moving on to Monuments, which features darker, almost unsettling tones as the tempo slows and the music becomes more impressive, but the madness returns when the backing vocals kick in, while Mechanical Prayers immediately returns to its intoxicating sounds. The musicians seem to lean more toward Progressive Rock and some Folk roots on the instrumental track, but the vocalist remains present to diversify the mix, exploring the full range of his abilities before moving on to Calypso’s tranquility, a fairly gentle and well-crafted track that skillfully gauges the role of each instrument before letting loose. Next up is Anger, which doesn’t live up to its name at all and offers a fairly calm sound, playing on strange and almost mystical tones rather than raw excitement, then Sanctified takes over with some rather dark, almost melancholic nuances. Here again, the sound remains quite ethereal and refined, allowing the vocalist to step forward or step back when the rhythm section kicks in, then the band returns to a catchy Hard Rock sound on Uman Inshallah, the next track, which could easily have been written during the heyday of Glam/Hair Metal given its Rock’n’Roll spirit. Then The Unlucky unveils one of the album’s most contrasting sounds, shifting surprisingly smoothly from purity to intensity over the course of its five minutes. The album closes with Trust, the final track, which takes a moment to get going but is fairly accessible, once again allowing the singer to stand out with a rather pessimistic message that fits the overall atmosphere quite well.
There’s no doubt that Spirit Animal is a real gem for fans of Progressive Rock and Metal, as well as for those who appreciate well-balanced Eastern influences, as the band moves effortlessly from a rich, even intense sound to more minimalist atmospheres. And even though I recognize its merits, sorry SUBMASQ, but it’s just not my thing.
70/100