Gates Of Hell Records - 2022
8.5/10
The Canadian heavy metal outfit Maule was brought to my attention in the midst of seeking out the massive bout of traditional metal albums that hit the scene this year. Having only a demo to their name, this self-titled debut album brings their simple foundation into bright fruition. It’s another one that makes its NWOBHM influence quite obvious from the start.
Colorful leads and the obvious Iron Maiden flavors are revealed immediately. Musically, this lets on energetic and tasty flavors meant to invoke rising serotonin levels, tacking on the staple twin guitar attacks everywhere. What stands out is the raspiness of the vocals, something that usually isn’t paired with riffing as clean as this; if anything, it’s usually the opposite. I’ll admit that this combo took a hot minute to grow on me, but once it did, I was set.
If that isn’t enough, the basslines play a crucial role in Maule. “Summoner” especially lets this in with sharp ferocity, carefully placing the guitars atop with their already established noodly presence. Themes around the occult without feeling like a satanic panic gives this a lot of charm, which matches the semi-uplifting feeling. Moreover, catchy choruses that land a tough impression make their way onto almost every track, including the ones that lean a bit more towards the intricate guitar focus.
Part of why the vocal contrast with the instrumentation took so long to grow on me is because of how odd the combo of hope and anger feels. This has certainly been done before, but very seldom do I see it pulled off so smoothly. “Father Time” really tackles the threatening punches through slow ascent into several angles of discomforting delivery, yet it always resolves itself. The swift “Red Sonja” on the other hand takes the aggression and speed to the point that it borders a thrash metal tune. The title track has an incredible slow-gallop that taps into victorious march vibes, and all of these approaches connect to each other very well.
Despite Maule’s clear visibility with their influence, I think they’ve managed to cook something somewhat unique up. It took me several listens to really grasp it, and there is probably a little bit of room for growth. But ultimately, the Canadian group has strong appeal and a decent idea of how to piece together intricate ideas without overdoing it. Easily worth seeking out for fans of Phantom, Black Sites, Konquest, and of course, Iron Maiden.
Listen -> Bandcamp
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