"Masque of Shadows" is a very intense experience based on a collection of musical ideas that I dare to describe as a cross between Jethro Tull and Jimi Hendrix.

     After a short intro with double harmony guitars they attack a Hendrix-inspired groove on "Black Tower"… The vocals move along quite well and the musicianship is remarkable.  "Shape of A Dancer", in similar style as the former track, is beautified by a pleasant keyboard arrangement and a funky vibe.  The mandolin-driven "Magic Circle" is a folk delight while "The Brook, the Mirror and the Maiden" is more elaborate in its 9-minute spread, with different patterns colored by chants, sedate keyboards, flutes and vintage sounds.  The title track ignites with yet another set of double harmony guitars and layers subsequently create a hard-rock pace.

     Yoke Shire are an extremely talented trio and have created a musical imagery capable of capturing the listener's attention at the first byte.

Carlos Tavares (April 2000)
www.geocities.com/progspace