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ADAM REES
Maelstrom UNIQUE LEADER
Bombastic tech-death from the depths of Bordeaux
While Beneath The Massacre’s long-awaited return has been the tech-death event of the year, this French quartet are hot on their heels with their fourth album. Their Wagnerian approach to fretboard conquest comes with added bells and whistles to help Maelstrom live up to its title, with even Miles Davies-esque trumpet playing on Wall Of Water and The Wreck making for a jarring juxtaposition. The opening title track’s operatic vocals make for an opulent start. The symphonic and electronic washes over the choppy riffs of Abyssal Flesh and Orbital Station add an unnerving atmosphere that complements the Lovecraftian themes, while the sophisticated, elegant noodling before exploding into a chaotic stampede is always a thrill.