Review by Adam M on December 3, 2019.

There is a feeling that recalls Baroness on this album.  It has that folk element, but also a groove that is unmistakable.  The entire thing rocks your socks off with gripping guitar riffing.  There is also a stoner element to the band that makes them seem somewhat doomy, even though they are far too light for that genre.  But still, the music is very authentic sounding and features a good deal of feel good riffs for the listener’s comfort.  

How does Bask compare to the best of Baroness?  Well, they are lighter than that and function out of a different pocket, but still have the groove that band holds in such high regard.  There are a lot of lighter moments on the album when sparse guitars are used and the vocals reflect the mood.  III is a very chill album and a nice one to relax to for a metal release.  Mind you, the album is still metal with distinctly challenging and sometimes heavy song structures.  The element of feeling good is reflected in the fact that the band seems to be having a great deal of fun playing the songs.  Even from the opener Three White Feet, one can detect a fun and loose vibe to the band that carries out through the rest of the album.  The outfit seems to feel the riffs and this makes them more convincing and memorable.  The album is still not perfect and suffers from the syndrome of having been there and done that.  There simply isn’t anything here that Baroness has done perhaps slightly better and this leads to a deja vu feeling.  

Still, this is such a jubilant and fun recording that you’ll be able to overlook this small flaw in favour of the passionate and enjoyable songs found here.  Fans of Baroness should rejoice because they have a similar band, Bask, that surpasses their album from this year, even though it doesn’t overtake past works.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Lynxie on May 2, 2022.

Well, third time is a charm they say, and obviously the Italian quintet's style had evolved over the years. This had actually been a bit of a hard review to write with so many elements. And I'm truly contemplating on tagging this as a mix between Beast In Black and Serious Black. (Right, and here I was, thinking Italian power metal is all fluffy and flowery stuff... I should definitely get rid of my stereotypes).

So the whole album started with the typical orchestra and voice-over part, while hinting at the theme of the album. Then transitioned smoothly to the quite thrashy 'Exile To Arise', though I do find the chorus dragging out a shade too long. With that dynamic riffing and catchy chorus, 'Amber Of Illusion' was where I had gotten that Serious Black vibe. 'Wailing In Red' was verily heavy metal, and I was fairly impressed by the flashy solo. By this point you would also realize that their underlying synth is here to stay. Mind you, I was never on the best term with synth, but I guess they actually add to the punch of this sort of Teutonic power metal. So yeah, no complaints here. My point was also emphasized on the more mid paced title track. Yet the ballad 'Red Flame' was faintly annoying with the almost jazzy piano popping around. Also, you'll notice some 80s energy off songs like 'Skin 2' and 'The Strangers' as well.

Now, as the album cover suggests, this is a concept album with sci-fi and cyberpunk elements. From the voice-over parts and some keywords like ''man'', ''machine'', ''outer space'', I think this is about a man trying to escape Apocalypse by traveling back in time. So yeah, kudos for being not terribly cliché.

Concerning the musicianship, this is what I would consider as adequate. Aurelio Parise's chugging riffs are crispy and banging, Giuseppe Lombardo's bassline straightforward and Nicolò Bernini's drumming fairly energetic. Ivan Castelli's voice, I would say, sounded rather like the more nasally version of Tobias Sammet or just a Nikola Mijić clone. The keyboard works actually remind me of the more heavy metal part of 'Berserker' - another feat in itself. And the extreme vocals of Claudio Facheris sure adds a layer to the structure of songs like 'Man, Machine, Almost Rhyme'.

So, always my final question: am I impressed? Well... no. This for me merely is enjoyable, mainly concerning the overall heavy power style. But I'm certain there are people out there who like sci-fi and the synthy stuff more than I do, so definitely give this band a chance on your playlist.

Highlights: 'Amber of Illusion', 'Skin 2', 'Man, Machine, Almost Rhyme'

Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Review by Lynxie on May 2, 2022.

Well, third time is a charm they say, and obviously the Italian quintet's style had evolved over the years. This had actually been a bit of a hard review to write with so many elements. And I'm truly contemplating on tagging this as a mix between Beast In Black and Serious Black. (Right, and here I was, thinking Italian power metal is all fluffy and flowery stuff... I should definitely get rid of my stereotypes).

So the whole album started with the typical orchestra and voice-over part, while hinting at the theme of the album. Then transitioned smoothly to the quite thrashy 'Exile To Arise', though I do find the chorus dragging out a shade too long. With that dynamic riffing and catchy chorus, 'Amber Of Illusion' was where I had gotten that Serious Black vibe. 'Wailing In Red' was verily heavy metal, and I was fairly impressed by the flashy solo. By this point you would also realize that their underlying synth is here to stay. Mind you, I was never on the best term with synth, but I guess they actually add to the punch of this sort of Teutonic power metal. So yeah, no complaints here. My point was also emphasized on the more mid paced title track. Yet the ballad 'Red Flame' was faintly annoying with the almost jazzy piano popping around. Also, you'll notice some 80s energy off songs like 'Skin 2' and 'The Strangers' as well.

Now, as the album cover suggests, this is a concept album with sci-fi and cyberpunk elements. From the voice-over parts and some keywords like ''man'', ''machine'', ''outer space'', I think this is about a man trying to escape Apocalypse by traveling back in time. So yeah, kudos for being not terribly cliché.

Concerning the musicianship, this is what I would consider as adequate. Aurelio Parise's chugging riffs are crispy and banging, Giuseppe Lombardo's bassline straightforward and Nicolò Bernini's drumming fairly energetic. Ivan Castelli's voice, I would say, sounded rather like the more nasally version of Tobias Sammet or just a Nikola Mijić clone. The keyboard works actually remind me of the more heavy metal part of 'Berserker' - another feat in itself. And the extreme vocals of Claudio Facheris sure adds a layer to the structure of songs like 'Man, Machine, Almost Rhyme'.

So, always my final question: am I impressed? Well... no. This for me merely is enjoyable, mainly concerning the overall heavy power style. But I'm certain there are people out there who like sci-fi and the synthy stuff more than I do, so definitely give this band a chance on your playlist.

Highlights: 'Amber of Illusion', 'Skin 2', 'Man, Machine, Almost Rhyme'

Rating: 7.2 out of 10