Description
Pure, aggressive traditional metal from Canada that captures the spirit of NWOBHM for the 21st century! On their self-titled album, Vancouver’s Maule reinvigorates the sounds of the early 1980s with a fresh, energetic twist, making it one of the year’s most exciting debuts!
More than four decades after its arrival, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) continues to inspire new musicians. Its first wave, of course, helped create thrash and laid the groundwork for the European and North American metal scenes that would take shape throughout the ensuing decade. And while Iron Maiden and Saxon emerged as the unabashed mainstays of the style, bands like Angel Witch, Blitzkrieg, Diamond Head and Tygers of Pan Tang established the core sonic tenants that now live on through bands a generation removed, including Vancouver, British Columbia’s Maule.
Formed in 2017 by rhythm guitarist/vocalist Jakob Weel and bassist Johnny Maule, Maule broke onto the scene in 2019 with their From Hell demo. The fivesong offering made waves throughout the metal underground, showcasing a young band with a deft grasp on traditional metal. As it turns out, Johnny Maule and original lead guitarist Daniel Gottardo came from a classical and jazz music background, informing their unique sense of riffs, rhythms and songwriting arrangements. The momentum from the From Hell demo carried the band into 2020 when they began work on what became their eponymous debut, their first release for Gates of Hell Records.
Recorded in February 2020 at Little Red Sounds Studio with producer/engineer Michael Kraushaar, who previously manned the From Hell sessions, Maule’s self-titled debut is an nine-song realization of the band’s sound, stocked with thrash-inspired riffing, anthemic choruses, blazing leads and Weel’s sharp, biting vocal approach that capably handles aggressive and mid-tempo material. (Gottardo played all leads on the album but has since been replaced by Justin Walker.) Lyrically, Maule embraces the storytelling philosophy embraced throughout classic metal with tales of life and death, with additional nods to Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft.
TRACKLIST
1. Evil Eye
2. Ritual
3. Summoner
4. Maule
5. Red Sonja
6. Sword Woman
7. Father Time
8. March of the Dead
9. We Ride
GENRE: Heavy Metal
BARCODE: 8054529000777
