Search - Tular :: Truth Behind the Mask

Forgettable female-fronted metal album

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 01/11/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"2008's The Truth Behind the Mask is the debut full-length release by Italian metal band Tular. The band plays a vaguely symphonic, vaguely progressive style of metal that's similar to bands like After Forever and Within Temptation. Sadly, Tular just isn't operating at those bands' level.



The forgettable songwriting and solid but unexceptional musical performances would have been bad enough, but it's the vocals that really sink this album. Emanuele Palmieri has a powerful voice, but it's crippled by either intentional distortion or an unintentionally amateur production job. Either way, it's a waste of the talent that could have pushed this album above an increasingly crowded female-fronted metal pack.



Even with a better production job, I doubt I could rate this album higher than 3-stars. It's solid enough, but if you've heard at least one After Forever album you've already experienced the best this genre has to offer. Tular has potential, but The Truth Behind the Mask just isn't worth buying."