I have followed this Vancouver based band on an online music platform and have been waiting for the full length album to be unleashed since first hearing the ‘From Hell’ demo. The time is now. Maule are a traditional metal band living the spirit of NWoBHM, but with a touch more bite and aggression included to keep within the 21st Century. The music characteristics are precise and very versatile, as mentioned, maybe leading themselves from two of the musicians coming from a classical and jazz background.
The vocals are aggressive in places, especially towards the tail end of the release, but still capture an element of melody and power as you would expect from a metal band taking influence from the past. I am really trying hard not to, but as everyone seems to categorize music, the NWoTHM movement by comparison. The music varies between savage thrash inspired riffs to blazing, almost anthem like chorus’ whilst those harsher vocals really suit the slow mid-tempo arrangements. Lyrically, a similar story is told including a nod to H.P. Lovecraft, general life and death. The artwork (by Dave Levi Holland, based on a sketch by band member Johnny Maule) is dark, but vibrant; based on my youth purchasing strategy, I would say this is an album by a heavier band upon first glance.
Highlights I have found on this release include three tracks that appeared on the “From Hell” demo, namely, ‘Ritual’, ‘Sword Woman’ and ‘Red Sonja’. Of the new tracks, ‘Evil Eye’ starts out the release rather well. If you like Riot City of Toledo Steel, you will be in good company here. There is plenty of melody in the vocals for the chorus, plenty of metal riffs and awesome rhythms galloping along the path to metal glory. ‘Father Time’ uses some elements and augmentation that may sit in the progressive thrash domain, but uplifted to the style. The vocals are rather harsh here. The band signature song ‘Maule’ is a modern NWoTHM romp through 4 minutes of raise your fist metal similar to that of those mentioned earlier and I would also include Traveler as another example for lazy comparison. ‘We Ride’ closes the album, there’s some classic riffing and motorbike sounds here, overall, Saxon springs to mind, but you will get the picture. You can’t help but sing along to this tune.
Overall, this debut album was well worth the wait, Maule are well versed in what they do and they add to an ever growing scene in this particular field. The label releasing the album is also a perfect fit for band. There’s no reason that the band can’t go onto the heights of the once total underground Night Demon. There’s a flavour of similarity, amongst many others. The album is enjoyable though and well worthy of checking out.
(8/10 Paul Maddison)
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