Year: 2022
Total Time: 80:00
Label: Napalm Records
For some bands, the new trend of live streaming events was a way to communicate with their fans, for other bands it was a matter of economic and artistic survival. For POWERWOLF it was a chance to create something that will stand out. “The Monumental Mass: A Cinematic Metal Event” is one of the best live streaming albums (thanks to COVID) that was released by Napalm Records on 8th of July this year.
It is a very ambitious effort by the band that involves amazing sets, fire, sexy nuns, many actors, visual effects and Christian symbols. Of course POWERWOLF felt very comfortable inside this concept since they rely heavily on theatrical performances and impressive live shows. Unfortunately they ignored their first two albums (“Return in Bloodred” – 2005 and “Lupus Dei” – 2007) and focused mostly on their last two (and very successful) albums (“The Sacrament of Sin” – 2018 and “Call of the Wild” – 2021). The rest of their discography was represented by 1-2 songs from each album. The setlist was particularly rich with 22 songs (prologue, epilogue, 3 music themes and 17 full length songs), it was divided to 4 theme parts (Temptation – Sin – Confession – Forgiveness) and included amazing songs like “Demons Are the Girls Best Friends”, “Glaubenskraft”, “Beast of Gevaudan” and “Armata Strigoi” (for each part). The frontman Attila Dorn and the rest of the band members were at their best and the German power metal is made for impressive shows.
To sum up, “The Monumental Mass: A Cinematic Metal Event” is one of the most honest and polished releases from live streaming events that many bands presented. I am not sure that it offers anything to their dedicated fans that own their whole discography but I believe collectors should have this in the collection. For the rest of us it is a good opportunity to get our hands on a “best of” album from a very good band.
Rating: N/A
Editor: Kostas Boudoukos
Related Link: POWERWOLF – Official Page
