The Redhead Project Pushes Forth an Invigorating New Metal Album Release, “The Mask I Wear”
StreamLINE MUSIC BLOG REVIEW - THE REDHEAD PROJECT - THE MASK I WEAR
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The Redhead Project is the “one-man band” brainchild of multi-faceted singer, songwriter and musician Matt Redhead. Created in 2013, the Redhead Project has manifested itself far beyond just its title as the “project” aspect refers to the significant amount of flourishing collaborations that Matt has coordinated with having other guest musicians and recording artists appearing on his album releases.
Incorporating such a diverse range of individuals into his projects has been extremely advantageous for Matt as it has created a unique feel to each album dating back to his debut The Ringmistress, moving forward to today’s spotlight, a sparkling new release titled “The Mask I Wear”.
“The Mask I Wear” is a seminal, 10-track compilation which takes you on an enthralling music journey, as well as captivates you with its provocative, insightful lyrical content. Teetering between a power metal and symphonic metal style, this almost hour-long project represents an evolution for Matt; personally, as well as pushing the envelope musically by infusing an overtly orchestral element into these hard-charging tracks as well as working with an astounding amount of vocalists and musicians of varying international flavors to bring this project to fruition.
What’s the Concept and Symbolism of “The Mask I Wear” Project
As you might infer from the title, “The Mask I Wear” was inspired out of the COVID pandemic and the personal toll that it took on Matt. This album serves as an intimate and introspective look into the variety of emotions and experiences that befell Matt during the pandemic…extremely relatable to many as the album’s songs touch on feelings of isolation, doubt, changes in perception of the world, losing touch with loved ones, goals of self-improvement etc. It’s a smorgasbord of lyrical authenticity which accentuates the outstanding production which we will get into soon.
But first, Matt shared some extremely enlightening insight into how this project came about which will give you even further context into why this such a groundbreaking piece of art.
The new album was born out of Covid. It had been a year since my previous release, which in hindsight I wasn’t happy with. I thought I’d have lots of free time in lockdown to write, but the inspiration just wasn’t there. I wrote ‘Dis Connected’ about isolation in lockdown, but I felt like that was that covered and couldn’t drag that out across a whole album. What the pandemic did do, was make me look at myself a bit more honestly, and for that reason there’s a lot of deeply personal material on this album, more than I’ve ever shared before. It is mostly an album of self-reflection – the best way I know to open up, is through music. It’s a grand release in terms of emotion, so I thought the music should reflect that, which is why it’s so heavy with the orchestration. I’ve infused symphonic elements with my music before, but not to this level. I feel like going forward, this kind of sound is me.
– Matt Redhead
This album is definitely more epic with its sound – you’ll hear orchestral elements on every track, which is a first for me. I’ve been more open with lyrics, whereas before I might have used a metaphor to almost hide what I truly meant/felt, this time it’s more on the sleeve and to the point.
The ‘project’ part of my name is leaned into even more so than ever before. Previously I did all the singing, however this time around I only sing on one track. Not including myself, there are seven different lead vocalists on the album, four different guitarists, a cellist, and my brother plays bass guitar on the final track. There are seven different nationalities represented from three continents making it a truly global effort.
Describe “The Mask I Wear” Sound
Already featuring a an edgy lyricism as noted above, the power and symphonic metal soundscapes on this album conjure up a range of contrasting emotions as you take in each track. For me personally, I describe the overall sound as exhilarating; boasting rapid transitions, mood shifts and pace redirections.
The tracks are buoyed by the quintessential metal drum playing which pounds the sound field, boldly with a potency that quickly seizes your attention. The percussion is complemented throughout by a lush group of blistering lead guitar sections and accompanying solos. I enjoyed the fret-exploding performances; featuring guitars raging and strongly surging ahead ranging from melodic riffs to more intricately laid out phrases. The guitar play is frenetic in pace, yet has a crisp output that demands kudos on the musicianship.
Now to the contrast I was speaking out above. Blending in with this grandiose foundation of drums and guitars are an amazing collection of orchestral instruments and vocal arrangements, including a variety of strings, wind and brass instruments. The expanse of monk-like chants, angelic background harmonies and choral interpolations inject an unquestionable cinematic feel into this album. A rock opera mystique!…gives me vibes of a fictional jam session of The Who’s “Tommy” with the New York Philharmonic.
The symphonic components work in conjunction with the respective lead vocal performances to create a distinct dynamism in this album. It’s the hallmark of a great project in which each song asserts itself individually while coming together to form a cohesive theme and tone. The magnanimous sound is personified in such album standouts as intriguing intro Nosce Te Ipsum, All the Things We Bury, Time to Change and Faults Exposed.
There are also some clever departures from the core sound. For example, Marionettes Macabre features a playful, cartoonish type melody to start the song before it seamlessly slides into its hard-nosed character. Also, Old is driven by a gracefully played grand piano and wistful violin piece. Each note pristinely laid down.
“The Mask I Wear” album is available on all streaming platforms and you can listen to it via the Spotify link below. Make sure to stream these tracks on on repeat and save to your Favorites Library for quick access. Also, stay up to date with any upcoming releases by following The Redhead Project’s profile.
Scroll below to also connect with The Redhead Project and learn some more interesting tidbits about Matt’s music journey in the More About section. Enjoy!
P.S. I can also envision these songs serving in a soundtrack of a crime thriller, adventure film or even dating back to a medieval war scene or a hero returning victoriously after battle!
Listen to “The Mask I Wear” Album on Spotify
The Mask I Wear
Listen to The Mask I Wear on Spotify. The Redhead Project · Album · 2022 · 10 songs.
Connect with The Redhead Project
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theredheadproject
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theredheadproject
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/projectredhead
More About The Redhead Project
The Redhead Project was created by Matt Redhead in 2013 as a one-man band, re-discovering his passion for music. The ‘Project’ element comes from the guest musicians that feature on every album, meaning there’s always a new stamp on the style. His first album ‘The Ringmistress’, was released in 2013, bringing a dark, almost doom element to the progressive and symphonic elements.
Since that first album there’s been progressive metal, there’s been thrash, again with the project element lending itself to more experimentation. One thing that is always present though is the honesty in the lyrics, backed up by hard hitting drums that never overplay, guitar riffs that infuse an element of groove but aren’t afraid to be complex when needed, and orchestral movements the sweep you into the theatre of it all.
All of the songs are written by Matt, with most of the instruments also being played by him. Guest musicians are used for parts that are outside of Matt’s wheelhouse, however these musicians are hand-picked and always add to the quality.
With the new album ‘The Mask I Wear’ now released, The Redhead Project has gone to the next level in scope, with even bigger things on the horizon.
Source: Spotify
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