Italian Power Metal bands are different. I know I said it before, but I must state it again and again, because I must refresh the minds of the readers (and the haters, of course). There are some that use unusual techniques to breed their musical personality, and some bands really come with different works that are very good. This is the case of the quartet MASTERCASTLE, because their new album, "Wine of Heaven", has very good and new points. The first point that makes this Power Metal band unusual is the use of modern and aggressive tunes on some guitar parts, and a very good and aggressive female vocal. Of course, it's not enough to make you sure of my words, but this is a very good beginning. Let me tell you: they have a very good personality pulsing under the harmonic structures of their songs, something charming that binds us all to their musical work.

The band's guitarist Pier Gonella produced the album, looking for a sound quality that could bind the aggressive tunes of the guitars with the very good melodies of the band's songs. And he got something really good, that make their sound flows easy to understand and heavy to catch the attention of many Metal fans. All their nine songs are very good, constructed in a way that isn't new at all, but is extremely personal, and the idea of not using some superfluous instrumental technique fits perfectly on the musical style. As their finest moments, we could say that "Drink of Me" and its aggressive insight on guitar riffs (very good modern tunes), the catchy melodies and excellent vocals presented on "Space of Variations" and on the charming and tender "Wine of Heaven", the fine keyboards parts and rhythmic session presented on "Shine on Me", the bittersweet melodic lines of "Enlightenment" (great chorus, turning it an accessible and charming song), and the climatic 80s Hard'n'Heavy moments of the tender "Making Love" can fit on this mere classification. But one more time: the entire album is really an excellent experience for our ears and minds.

They are very good band, indeed, and they deserve to be heard carefully by everyone.