Melbourne based Meshiaak has returned after 3 years with a killer follow-up to their debut album. ‘Mask of all Misery’ is set to be released Nov. 15, 2019 via Mascot Records and is an album any metal fan needs to pick up.
Musically ‘Mask of all Misery’ is heavy with some massively dark undertones, that match the albums lyrical subject matter perfectly. And seriously, can we talk about Cameron’s six-string bass??
While the album, musically, is a work of art on its own, the topics it deals with lyrically are the standout for me. Meshiaak tackles some profound subject matter that most people, let alone bands, shy away from in today’s climate. They take on the toxic state of the world as a whole, the battles we fight within ourselves, and with those around us, and even some government conspiracy theories. Oh yeah, this is right up my alley.
The instrumental album opener, Miasma, leads us right into a state of questioning what we think we know. Upon doing some research, Miasma is a theory that many of the airborne illnesses we face are caused, not by germs per se, but by the “bad air” or pollution as the Greek origins of the word suggest. The craziest part of the theory is that it proposes that these are all perpetuated and spread intentionally by governments to keep their populations dependent on them.
The toxic theme carries through to the title track Mask of all Misery but is more aimed towards the personal instead of the social. This song deals with the noxious relationships and people we surround ourselves with. We all know that just because they are so negative and full of hate, we do not have to be, but damn it is hard to not them affect you. Bury the Bodies talks about the relationship we have with ourselves and how turning inward can either be a dark and scary thing, or we can use these times to better ourselves. The past can make us stronger or it can break us. The choice is up to you. Doves shows the more resilient side of the human brain during those times that inward reflection turns hopeless and we fight our way out of it.
Adrena delves back into the government conspiracy aspect of the album. It seems to call out the alleged experiments the CIA and other similar agencies during the Cold War called Adrenochrome. It is a completely insane thing to think about truly happening. I am not gonna ruin it, you have to Google it yourself.
The album concludes with Godless, which definitely shows the more progressive rock side of the band, coming in at 7:21. This goes back to the internal struggle between the part in each of us that wants or needs to be empathetic towards others and the almost narcissistic side of us that is inherently about self-preservation.
Although there is some very dark subject matter in the album, the overall message is positive. We all have struggles and we are all strong enough to handle them, if not on our own, with the help of those we keep in our lives. Be sure to keep people around you that lift you up, not tear you down.
Line up: Danny Camilleri, Dean Wells, Andrew Cameron, David Godfrey
