Few projects embody underground determination quite like The Velvet Lies. Emerging from the isolation of a London lockdown in 2021, the outfit has steadily built a reputation through an unconventional creative process that trades rehearsal rooms for remote collaboration. What began with little more than a guitar, a bass, and a drum machine has evolved into a sprawling heavy music project, culminating in the release of Hecatomb. Among its standout moments, “Macabre Masquerade” arrives like a dark, imposing storm cloud gathering on the horizon.
The track embraces the raw spirit of stoner metal while borrowing the crushing weight of sludge and doom. Rather than chasing polish, The Velvet Lies lean into texture and atmosphere, creating a sound that feels gritty, organic, and wonderfully abrasive.
Right from the opening moments, “Macabre Masquerade” throws listeners into a dense wall of grinding guitar riffs. The guitars churn relentlessly, thick with distortion and coated in fuzz, creating a sense of looming menace that hangs over the entire song. Beneath them, the drums arrive with pelting force, hammering out a relentless rhythm that keeps the track moving forward like a machine built for destruction.
Then come the vocals. Delivered through a hoarse, growling performance, they add another layer of darkness to the arrangement. The voice sounds less like a narrator and more like a specter emerging from the smoke, carrying an unsettling intensity. Every growl and scream feels purposeful, contributing to the song’s suffocating atmosphere.
As part of Hecatomb, “Macabre Masquerade” showcases The Velvet Lies at their most confident and focused.
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Review by: Naomi Joan