Album Review: Maestus – Deliquesce (code666)

code666 are pleased to announce that they will release Deliquesce by doom band Maestus on February 8th 2019. The recording is described as a 50-minute slab of charred and filigreed granite channeling frustration, anxiety, and estrangement into a blackdoom cauldron in the vein of Pallbearer, Ahab, Shape of Despair and Evoken.

Four tracks, each over 10 minutes long and each taking the listener on a deep and troubling journey.

Maestus aren’t your average doom band as the gorgeous melodic intro of the title track shows. Soft, emotional and then it hits and it hits hard. Slow, haunting and heavy as anything, the brutality shown is only offset by the dips into sorrowful sadness. Spell-blinding stuff, it might be 15-minutes long but it doesn’t feel it at all. The use of piano is *chef kisses*.

Black Oake is a bit more straight-forward, at least as straight-forward as Maestus can get with a near 12-minute doom epic. It’s not quite got the same grasp as the track that came before but it’s like comparing having £990 instead of £1000. Does it really matter!?

The doom-masters are back to full strength on the stunning post-like blackened doom metal effort that is The Impotence of Hope. A phenomenal effort that just leaves your mouth agape.

All good things must come to an end and Deliquesce is no different as it wraps up with Knell of Solemnity. Is it any surprise that this is just the cherry on top of a truly substantial offering from Maestus?

A contender for the best album of the year.

Maestus – Deliquesce Full Track Listing:

1. Deliquesce
2. Black Oake
3. The Impotence of Hope
4. Knell of Solemnity

As well as being available via all major digital services on release, physical CD copies can be ordered here and vinyl copies here. Find out more/keep up to date with news by checking out Maestus’ Facebook Page.