Album Review: Maule – Maule (Gates of Hell Records)

New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal newcomers Maule will release its self-titled, full-length debut album on January 14, 2022 on Gates of Hell Records (a Cruz Del Sur Music sub-label).

The year will be 3022 and bands will still be reviving the sound of traditional heavy metal. Even if that is a term you find yourself hating, it’s still something that is pretty recognisable to the ears. Like a warm blanket on a cold day, it’s a sound that can make you feel nostalgic while also (hopefully) finding your new favourite band to ply this trade.

Enter Maule, a band offering up classic head-banging energy, powerful rhythms, horn-throwing heaviness and bundles of groove. Simplistic but so much fun. Maule come out hot with Evil Eye, the fist-pumping chorus and galloping riffs make this a banger start. Then, both Ritual and Summoner keep the hyperactivity at the forefront while also being super catchy.

Next in line is the self-titled track and there is seemingly little change to the formula at first. Although that is not worthy of a complaint. The riffs are fire, the shouted group vocals slay and there’s a banger solo. However, just past the halfway point, the tempo drops and it’s a shift that freshens things up.

Briefly though, as afterwards we get two fast and frantic heavy metal efforts in Red Sonja and Sword Woman. Before the soundscape shifts again with the thrilling head-banging groove of Father Time and the meaty thump of March of the Dead. The album then wraps up with We Ride, a last chance to the let the hair fly in a wild bout of head-banging and heavy metal carnage.

Maule – Maule Full Track Listing:

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

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Gates of Hell Records