Secrecy - Raging Romance (1991)

Mmm, the only way I can loosely describe the wonder of Secrecy is by saying they are melodic techno-thrash. So many influences come to mind upon spinning this obscurity - Secrecy are the sort of bacnd who were clearly ahead of their time, too cool for school with their refreshing and often jagged sound, perked by the ever-flowing vocal swoon of Peter Dartin. These German metal-heads have a strong power metal feel, mixing the cold steel splendour of Accept, Helloween, with a slightly doom-laden, Gothic feel - think Stillborn combined with King Diamond, and a hint of Euro thrash. Each track on offer is a technical groove that's not all too hard on the ears, the vocals tend to give the whole album a dreamy feel, even if at times they seem at odds with the musicianship, but I'm guessing that's the wave of complexity shining through. Thirteen tracks on offer, most of them given rather overlong titles such as 'To Mind's Borderline (This World's Wisdom Reprise)' and 'Embrace (The Greatest Gift, Part 1)' but it all adds to the almost sullen mystery of it all. When the band do thrash out, it's never more than a sombre crunch, but this darkly tinged metal fest is worth picking up if you're after something a little different, but it'll take a few spins to register. The epic 'Masquerade' is worth the price alone.
7/10