Mason Hill – Against The Wall
"It’s been, five years, and now I wonder where we stand… do you still think of me?"
There’s a lot more going on in that line from the title track of contemporary rock-metal quintet Mason Hill’s debut album than first meets the ear.
A clear nod to the patient fans and the many ups & downs of the Glasgow based band’s efforts to deliver a debut album (including a big label deal that led not to the start of a long musical marriage but a quick annulment) Against The Wall (both song and album) emphatically underlines it was worth the wait and fan-funded assistance for the band – primary songwriters James Bird (lead guitar) & Scott Taylor (lead vocals), Marc Montgomery (guitar), Matthew Ward (bass) and Craig McFetridge (drums) – to shape their own musical destiny.
Opener 'Reborn (Prologue)' is a short, atmospheric piece led by acoustic guitar and electronica that lyrically points to where the band and album are thematically heading across a number of the tracks (especially evident within the opening trio of songs).
Following number, the highly impacting 'No Regret,' makes for quite the song title statement.
Filled with swaggering riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a prime blues-metal era Whitesnake album, 'No Regret' has far more substance than the all-too-familiar cock-rock and simple verse riff, chorus riff pattern.
There’s some very clever work going on here with various song parts merging well to create a nice sense of melodic ebb and rock-metal flow; the final delivery of "No Regret!" is delivered with so much conviction from Scott Taylor you don't doubt he means it.
The title track, which saw the light of day in late 2020 as a taster single, makes even more impact here as the follow-on to 'No Regret' with its together-in-adversity lyricism, ferocious rhythm/ beat, huge chorus melody and great use of rise and fall dynamics.
'Broken Sun,' with its anthemic widescreen chorus and staccato guitar parts, is reminiscent of American bands like Hoobastank with the added commercial punch of Bon Jovi-esque woah-oh-ohs.
(It’s also, frankly, a song Def Leppard will wish they had written, or could write).
By contrast 'DNA' is an out and out rocker with a tribal beat and stonking riff to kick off proceedings as well as another big sing-a-long chorus.
There’s also some great guitar work in this number and a top-notch power ending...
There’s a lot more going on in that line from the title track of contemporary rock-metal quintet Mason Hill’s debut album than first meets the ear.
A clear nod to the patient fans and the many ups & downs of the Glasgow based band’s efforts to deliver a debut album (including a big label deal that led not to the start of a long musical marriage but a quick annulment) Against The Wall (both song and album) emphatically underlines it was worth the wait and fan-funded assistance for the band – primary songwriters James Bird (lead guitar) & Scott Taylor (lead vocals), Marc Montgomery (guitar), Matthew Ward (bass) and Craig McFetridge (drums) – to shape their own musical destiny.
Opener 'Reborn (Prologue)' is a short, atmospheric piece led by acoustic guitar and electronica that lyrically points to where the band and album are thematically heading across a number of the tracks (especially evident within the opening trio of songs).
Following number, the highly impacting 'No Regret,' makes for quite the song title statement.
Filled with swaggering riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a prime blues-metal era Whitesnake album, 'No Regret' has far more substance than the all-too-familiar cock-rock and simple verse riff, chorus riff pattern.
There’s some very clever work going on here with various song parts merging well to create a nice sense of melodic ebb and rock-metal flow; the final delivery of "No Regret!" is delivered with so much conviction from Scott Taylor you don't doubt he means it.
The title track, which saw the light of day in late 2020 as a taster single, makes even more impact here as the follow-on to 'No Regret' with its together-in-adversity lyricism, ferocious rhythm/ beat, huge chorus melody and great use of rise and fall dynamics.
'Broken Sun,' with its anthemic widescreen chorus and staccato guitar parts, is reminiscent of American bands like Hoobastank with the added commercial punch of Bon Jovi-esque woah-oh-ohs.
(It’s also, frankly, a song Def Leppard will wish they had written, or could write).
By contrast 'DNA' is an out and out rocker with a tribal beat and stonking riff to kick off proceedings as well as another big sing-a-long chorus.
There’s also some great guitar work in this number and a top-notch power ending...
The acoustically introduced melodic rock ballad 'Who We Are' drops the pace and sets up the hands and iPhones in the air moment.
The well-crafted number also helps highlight Scott Taylor’s impressive vocals in a less sonically intense setting and, by the same token, provides contrast to the predominately rock-metal element of the band’s material.
Said rock-metal reintroduces itself in powerful fashion on 'Find My Way,' a pedal down number with a Foo Fighters agenda.
Another song with some clever time changes and a big chorus, 'Find My Way' also demonstrates just how tight a unit Mason Hill are (special nod here to the band’s secret weapon Craig McFetridge, who is on point and on the beat every rhythmic second); it also shows the song-versatility of a band who can incorporate metal, melody, power-pop harmonies and rock influences in one song.
'Hold On,' which first appeared in 2018, is a riff-driven, mid-tempo foot stomper of a song that includes several clever curve-balls, including a change to the riff pattern by the second chorus to avoid repetition and maintain interest.
'Out of Reach' is a gentler number that ups the ante for the choruses and as such is from the Alter Bridge school of song-writing.
By association there are, therefore, clear signs of derivation but given this is one of the band’s earliest songs it shows how far they have come in a relatively short time (it also features a tasteful solo from James Bird).
A short atmospheric introduction then leads to the absolutely killer riff that drives 'We Pray.'
A very strong song and one of many album highlights, it’s another that benefits from a widescreen chorus.
'Where I Belong,' an impassioned who I am/ where I come from rock ballad that goes back to the band’s self-titled 2016 EP, has been a set-list staple since day one.
Opening in an understated but highly effective manner, the song floats on lone guitar, vocal and harmonies for the first ninety seconds before the rhythm section tastefully build the number.
A great, ever-building lead vocal from Scott Taylor and excellent guitar solo from James Bird add to the emotive content before the song moves toward its emotional conclusion, followed by the short but effective bookend of 'Reborn (Reprise).'
Mason Hill may have started out with their backs Against The Wall but they’ve since turned around to face it head on, kick it down and walk on through with purposeful stride and a seriously impressive & impacting debut album under their belts.
Nelson McFarlane& Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Against The Wall will be released on 5th March in CD, Coloured Vinyl and Picture Disk Vinyl.
You can pre-order/ purchase the album plus Mason Hill merch here: www.masonhillofficial.com/shop
The well-crafted number also helps highlight Scott Taylor’s impressive vocals in a less sonically intense setting and, by the same token, provides contrast to the predominately rock-metal element of the band’s material.
Said rock-metal reintroduces itself in powerful fashion on 'Find My Way,' a pedal down number with a Foo Fighters agenda.
Another song with some clever time changes and a big chorus, 'Find My Way' also demonstrates just how tight a unit Mason Hill are (special nod here to the band’s secret weapon Craig McFetridge, who is on point and on the beat every rhythmic second); it also shows the song-versatility of a band who can incorporate metal, melody, power-pop harmonies and rock influences in one song.
'Hold On,' which first appeared in 2018, is a riff-driven, mid-tempo foot stomper of a song that includes several clever curve-balls, including a change to the riff pattern by the second chorus to avoid repetition and maintain interest.
'Out of Reach' is a gentler number that ups the ante for the choruses and as such is from the Alter Bridge school of song-writing.
By association there are, therefore, clear signs of derivation but given this is one of the band’s earliest songs it shows how far they have come in a relatively short time (it also features a tasteful solo from James Bird).
A short atmospheric introduction then leads to the absolutely killer riff that drives 'We Pray.'
A very strong song and one of many album highlights, it’s another that benefits from a widescreen chorus.
'Where I Belong,' an impassioned who I am/ where I come from rock ballad that goes back to the band’s self-titled 2016 EP, has been a set-list staple since day one.
Opening in an understated but highly effective manner, the song floats on lone guitar, vocal and harmonies for the first ninety seconds before the rhythm section tastefully build the number.
A great, ever-building lead vocal from Scott Taylor and excellent guitar solo from James Bird add to the emotive content before the song moves toward its emotional conclusion, followed by the short but effective bookend of 'Reborn (Reprise).'
Mason Hill may have started out with their backs Against The Wall but they’ve since turned around to face it head on, kick it down and walk on through with purposeful stride and a seriously impressive & impacting debut album under their belts.
Nelson McFarlane& Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Against The Wall will be released on 5th March in CD, Coloured Vinyl and Picture Disk Vinyl.
You can pre-order/ purchase the album plus Mason Hill merch here: www.masonhillofficial.com/shop