Again: when a writer deals more than one or two times with a sequence of releases of a band, it’s easy to hear and check the evolution of its music. Such experience gains more importance when you’re dealing with extreme Metal genres, because to those who are into such ways it’s easier. And the North American Death Metal titans of MAUL shows a very good level of evolution on their second album, “In the Jaws of Bereavement”. As I wrote on the review of “Seraphic Punishment” (2022), they carried a very good load of Old School Death Metal influences on their music, and of their EP “Desecration and Enchantment”, they started to show some experimental traits. Here, the band is again relaying on classic Death Metal formulas (obviously with personality), but with different traits, with many rhythmic shifts and subjective Death/Thrash Metal melodic arrangements (as heard on “Unbridled Delusions”), and Hardcore massive breaks. But the fans must pay attention to one important point: the identity of the band is the same, untouched and savage as always, just adding new influences.

It means: if you liked the past releases, for sure you’ll love their second full-length, because the quintet is faithful to its music. Once more the band worked on Signaturetone Recordings under the supervision of Adam Tucker, who did the recordings, mixing and mastering of the songs, and things improved a lot, because the band’s music sounds ‘full’, aggressive and compact as a wall of stones, and understandable in every single aspect, with very good aggressive instrumental tunes. As guests, here are Vincent Bennett (singer of COCKPUNCH! and THE ACACIA STRAIN) on the vocals on “In the Jaws of Bereavement”, and the Hugh Danger on all the synths and samples parts. And to shape things, here is Wyrmwalk signing the very good artwork.

“In the Jaws of Bereavement” can be said as a big ‘fuck you’ in the face of self-indulgence, showing that they’re not living into a comfort zone and are always pushing themselves, as heard on “In the Jaws of Bereavement” (a massive and slow onslaught of energy, with a Death Metal embodiment filled with Hardcore traits, with fine contrasts between the guttural growls and harsh screamed tunes of the vocals), “Blood Quantum” (a harsh and fast moment with energy blowing the VU meters, but with intense and heavy slow parts, and what very good and technical work on bass guitar and drums), “Weaving Cerebral Horrors” (the massive breakdowns fit perfectly on what the guitars the drawing), “Spontaneous Stigmata” (the perfect song for moshpiting, with very good slow tempos contrasting with Old School Death Metal rhythms), “An Alluring Deceit” (a short song with Avant-garde Death Metal elements) , “Midwest Death”, “Unbridled Delusions” (very good technical appeal is heard on the bass guitar and drums here), “Stuck Stomped and Smeared”, “With Each Voracious Lick” and “Drawn to Drowning” (many Old School Death Metal parts are heard here).

Evolving without leaving what they are apart, MAUL is coming as a new and relevant name in Death Metal, and can be a menace to those who are just living off their past. Taste “In the Jaws of Bereavement” and you’ll see it (better saying, hear it)!