Enter the Mirror

Maserati begins Enter the Mirror with 2020, a majestic analog synth fanfare that unfolds like the prologue to a sci-fi movie. Its territory the band knows well and explores expertly on their first album in five years. Enter the Mirror evokes the real and fantasy crises of the 80s as well as the 2020s, and Maseratis vocoder-heavy robot rock sounds sleeker and feels more ominous than it has in some time. Emptys searing guitars and pulse-pounding arpeggios call to mind a dystopian scenario like The Running Man; on A Warning in the Dark, the band adds a danceable beat and shooting star synths to the proceedings without losing any of its doomy vibe. Not only do all the elements on these chrome-plated songs mesh with each other seamlessly, they feature some of Maseratis most powerful performances. Der Honigs grinding Motorik beat gives way to an organ and guitar showdown that generates lots of sparks, while Wallwalker boasts riffs and solos big enough to fill a stadium before it effortlessly shifts gears and hits the dancefloor. Familiar yet unpredictable moments like these make Enter the Mirror a confident, dynamic celebration of Maseratis 20th year of reimagining the future of decades past with 20/20 hindsight. ~ Heather Phares