Canadian Melodic Rock band MASON injects true enthusiasm with their debut album, ‘I Can’t Wait’, released on Lions Pride Music. Fronted by Marcus Mason – who has written the entire album, and play guitar and bass – the band offers a well-rounded collection of tracks delivered with heartfelt passion.
Mason‘s lineup includes a well known group of musicians from the genre, featuring Jimmy Katone (Hit The Ground Runnin’) on drums, Josef “Peppi” Gebhard (4-Sale) on lead guitar, and Peter Penhallow (Eye, Bobby Barth) on keyboards. They’re joined by a host of guest artists like Markus Pfeffer (Atlantis Drive, Barnabas Sky), Jon Willoughby “Neill” (Rio), Paul Piccari and Steve Cocchi (both from Hit The Ground Runnin’), and more.
‘I Can’t Wait’ has been mixed and mastered by the legendary Steve Negus (Saga, GNP Project), whose work adds polish and vitality to Mason‘s sound.
Born in 1988 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Marcus Mason has been immersed in the music world for nearly two decades, performing live and recording. His formative years were spent absorbing the sounds of Hard Rock and Pop from previous eras, which set him apart from the prevailing musical trends of his youth.
This distinct musical taste is at the heart of “I Can’t Wait,” a collection of well crafted tracks that blend catchy melodies with robust rock instrumentation.
You can hear Marcus and his band true enthusiasm bringing back the melodic rock sound from the late ’80s, but also rock&pop in the vein of The Outfield, The Cutting Crew and John Waite solo.
Marcus’ voice is clean and pleasant – though not overly varied – he consistently delivers strong performances, showcasing his understanding of the genre’s nuances. Some tracks might lack standout hooks, but they’re all solidly crafted, and any critique here feels more like minor nitpicking than genuine criticism.
Far from faint praise, this album is a respectable debut brimming with cool tunes, even if a few could have used a touch more memorability.
‘I Can’t Wait’ is a commendable first effort from MASON – fans of Melodic Rock with both a Classic Rock and Pop Rock twist will find plenty to enjoy in this debut.
Each track highlights Marcus Mason’s knack for a good melody supported by the energy and expertise of all band members / guests. With a refine in more expansive songwriting and especially the ‘hook factor’, MASON will be a band to keep an eye on in the Melodic Rock scene.
Highly Recommended
01 – One Life
02 – I Can’t Wait
03 – It’s Okay to Cry
04 – Turn Me Around
05 – Whatever It Takes
06 – My Desire
07 – Hands Off
08 – All That Remains
09 – We Were Young
Marcus Mason – Vocals, Bass, Guitars
Jimmy Katone (Hit The Ground Runnin’) – Drums
Peter Penhallow (Eye, Bobby Barth) – Keys
Josef “Peppi” Gebhard (4-Sale) – Lead Guitars
Additional Musicians:
Bella Perron – Guitars (Solo & Outro on Track 6)
Jon Willoughby (Neill) – Guitars (Solo on Track 5)
John McAfee – Guitars (Lead & Solo on Track 3)
Markus Pfeffer – Guitars (Solo on Track 8)
Paul Piccari – Bass (Track 1)
Steve Cocchi – Keyboards (Track 8)