Legend says there are three pieces to the fabled Triforce: power, wisdom, and courage. It’s time for the third piece to be discovered.
A few years back, I got into a band called Master Sword. I’ve interviewed them twice and reviewed their previous two albums on this blog. I’ve been championing them since the day I first heard them. Toying With Time is the third record from the Legend of Zelda-themed progressive metal act. I think my first reaction online was “Holy crap the new album is absolutely mega!!!”. Yes, those were my exact words and I wasn’t lying, this album is amazing. Probably their best record to date. From the writing to the production, this album is such a fantastic listening experience. Like I said, it’s a mega album. Even with eight songs, this album feels like a huge experience with the longest song clocking in at a whopping eleven and a half minutes.
I love how they play around with the Zelda lore in their lyrics. The way they blend the source material through their vision is something that you have to hear; this album is their take on the game Majora’s Mask. Time is a key part of the game, the whole game is a race against the clock. So, when crafting the lyrics, that must have played into the band's mind, the game also features some of the most beloved characters in the series and you can tell that the band have had a lot of fun coming up with lyrical poetry that goes into some of those characters.
The opening song “The Salesman” is a wonderful little homage to the Happy Mask Salesman, a character originally from The Ocarina of Time but played a key role in Majora’s Mask. The song sets the tone quite well for this record. It’s grand and operatic with little flourishes that remind you of the video game’s score. The way they can inject so much personality into their vocal performances is so charming that she can shift into the more forceful vocal work out of nowhere. It’s a creative way to give the song extra gear without changing the musicality of the instrumentation. This is how Master Sword works in terms of writing. They create the scenario or character for the song and play around with different styles and instrumentation until it fits the mood just right.
Let’s talk about that mammoth track that acts as the somewhat centrepiece of the record. “Son of Stone (Winter’s Requiem)”. Placed second to last on the record, this track cycles through the full gambit of the band's musicianship and capabilities. From the intense, manic instrument focus to the bold, captivating vocal work. The peaks and valleys this song takes you through feel like a momentous journey. It’s a song that has to be felt, like take a moment and just revel in the craftsmanship of the composition. The wonderful guitar solos are complemented by an excellent foundation in the bass and drums with the otherworldly keyboard sections. It comes together in one interesting little package. Even though this song has a hefty runtime, it doesn’t feel like it. It’s not like other prog-rock ballads of its ilk. You’re not looking at your watch waiting for the song to end. The track feels like a breeze to get through.I think that is something I can say about the production as a whole. There is such a charm to Master Sword’s sound. Never at any point do you feel bored. I feel like there’s so much passion and effort that went into this record. Each layer of the production adds texture and character. That’s nothing new for them, if you’ve read my past reviews of their music you’ll know how much I appreciate their care and attention to detail. From the powerful heaviness of songs like “Dance Of The Demon” and “How You Hide” to the more sombre atmospheric songs like “My Last Breath” they manage to keep the listener engaged with their melodies and lyrics.
This album is a wonderful accomplishment and it’s been quite the road to get here. I was one of the Kickstarter backers for this record (as I was for their second album The Final Door) and I’ve been kept up-to-date with everything on Toying Time's production. Hell, this album was originally slated for release in the autumn of 2023. So needless to say this is a little outside of that time frame. I think the delay was worth it. Sometimes you listen to an album and you think that it could’ve spent a little bit more time and work going into it. That’s not something I feel here. Even though the band have spent longer on the production, you can feel that labour of love in the finished product.
That’s probably the best thing about this album. It’s not overstuffed with songs. It doesn’t take you, the listener, for granted. The album has a lot of breathing room and a lot of spacey atmospheric moments. Moments where you can just absorb the atmosphere that they’ve produced. The writing is sharp and bold and filled with little details that you might miss on a first listen. I know there were moments like that for me. Like the gentle clock ticking sound at the start of “My Last Breath” or the strumming guitar sounds in “The Salesman”. It’s an album that you need a couple of listens to fully get everything.
I tip my hat to them for persisting with the production and bringing this album out. It sounds fantastic, it’s well-written and the performances are captivating. I have been recommending them for years now to anyone even vaguely interested in progressive or symphonic metal. I think I’ve said this in my past reviews but it is worth mentioning again, you do not have to know anything about The Legend of Zelda video games to be invested in their music. If you are, then you get a nod and wink in the lyrics, but if you don’t know anything, the lyrics are still interesting to ruminate on. It’s more than worth your time and check out their other albums too. I promise if you enjoy progressive metal you will definitely get a kick out of it.
CHECK OUT MASTER SWORD: YOUTUBE | BANDCAMP | SPOTIFY
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