Album Review: Frenzy - Of Hoods And Masks

Frenzy - Of Hoods And Masks

Fighter Records - 2023

7/10

Very seldom these days do I find a release that I can call glam metal, or at least something that stylistically would have fit the description if the year were 1986. Frenzy are a Spanish heavy metal act that very much align with tags we would have given to Dokken, Keel, and the likes. Instead of writing about girls and parties, they cover comic books. Their debut album a few years back sees its follow-up in a condensed, slightly more focused fashion, titled Of Hoods And Masks. The seven tracks flow very fluidly in construction and topic, ending with not one but two covers.

Thus, much of this relies on catchy choruses with anthemic boosts, and clean sweeping solos that shred hard. “The Doomsday” is constructed exactly in line with this, one that after only two listens I find myself humming. Others like “Spectres Of Love” are a tad more elaborate, highlighting the guitarist’s ax-wielding abilities. Moreover, their lead vocalist has some serious pipes, reminding me heavily of Stryper’s Michael Sweet. I can even appreciate the “Living In Oz” Rick Springfield cover, as it weirdly fits the aesthetic of the rest of the album, likely due to some of the poppy elements.

My only issue with Of Hoods And Masks, however, is a somewhat damning one. The songwriting itself has very little foundation outside of catchiness and cleanliness. Frenzy’s whole aesthetic is bound to leave room for corniness, but some of the lyrics feel rather campy, namely “Where Is The Joke?” (ironically enough). I don’t think I’d go as far as using the word generic, but there’s also a clear need for identity in the musical makeup realm. Much of the album starts to feel run-of-the-mill once you reach “Uncompromised.”

But I can’t knock them too hard. Nothing is overtly unpleasant, and the talent is evident across the board. Perhaps taking the cleaner aspects back a bit, or adding a little more flavor to the aesthetic could do wonders. For now though, this is worth checking out for metalheads favoring the clean melodies or are sympathetic to the glam scene.