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This will be a first in a hopefully ongoing series. This will be Stark's Metal Review.
First off to clear up everything and to give a little bit of backround, Maelstrom is a Long Island based Metal band. I was fortunate to meet Gary (Lead Vocals) at FYE in Oceanside Long Island and after the usual Metal discussions on what was coming out and just idle chit chat, he told me about his band Maelstrom. I was intrigued, as any true Metal fan should be and being a huge fan of Metal in general, he invited me to check out their Myspace and the rest is history.
Maelstrom is a band that will be a name to remember for years to come. The first thing that I really dug about the band was the artwork. When I was shown the artwork for "It Was Predestined", it quite simply blew me away. Every Metal Band should A) Have cool artwork that should be displayed like a coat of arms and B) The artwork should set the tone to what is packaged inside. The band has worked extremely hard on getting the right artwork for this release as it is simply breathtaking. This is something that should be layed out on a denim jacket or good ol' MC. Enough about artwork on to the music. I have heard the songs in their entirety so here ya go.
Arise- This is the icebreaker. The lead track can make or break a band and this song sets the tone of things to come. I definately felt this track. The layered vocals worked, the guitar tracks were interwoven with precision and the drums echo a war cry. This is music that you can thrash to, listen to while you are enveloped inside a fantasy book (The one book that comes to mind is Dragonlance: Lord Soth, The Warriors Volume 4 by Edo Van Belkom) or cruisin down the Southern State Parkway pissed off at the asshole that just cut you off. It is definately a soundtrack for something to come. What I like is the progression. There are breaks and different moods that really make this song stand out. The female vocals are also subtle but haunting. The whole package makes the fantasy setting a reality.
A Futile Crusade- The first thing I thought of was.........WAR!!! Storm the keep, slay the invaders and......yeah I dig it. Heavy!! Just like good Metal should be. Again, solid vocals, scandanavianesque guitar playing (Joey your playing reminds me of the sounds that are coming from Finland and Sweden and that is a good thing) and Machine gun drumming make this track. The breaks are in their appropriate sections and do not take away anything from the aggressiveness. Hail!
Predestined- Same thing a solid performance. I really like the drums on this track, the mixing and raw power highlight the song without taking away anything from the guitars, bass or vocals.
What I really want to convey is that this is a solid Metal release. I really enjoyed listening to this and will be listening to it more and more. This little EP is to me a taste of things to come. I say this with honesty, this band has captured their sound and has done what should be done. If your into Metal you NEED to pick this up. Luckilly I have a promo copy but I will buy the release when it comes out in a jewel case (Hey I like to support what I like!!), but it is also on I-Tunes and should be in stores soon!!
Lastly I would like people to understand that the band has done all of this on their own. On their own budget and within their own ideas. I think alot of bands that take their time and really get their product right really deserve more credit. The major labels do not send out packages for their established artists that are done with this kind of care and time. They did a great job with their Bio sheets, promo packaging and internet blitz. It can be alot of work and I really don't think bands get the credit for their hard work. So guys, my pints raised. I am a Metal fan first and foremost, so Maelstrom.......great job and I can't wait to hear more in the future.
Oh yeah I forgot one thing. I will not put this in to the multitude of sub-genres that the Metal community has granted to every new sound that comes out. This is Metal. Pure Metal. nothing less.
The link for Maelstrom is below. Please check them out. I guarantee you will not be dissapointed
