New York is quite the hot spot for good music. One of the bands from that area, Vally Stream in Long Island, to be exact, is WICKED MARAYA. They are classed as a Progressive and Power Metal band. The Metal Archives site isn’t sure when the band actually started, but it was before 1989. They were WICKED MARAYA until 1995, then changed it to MARAYA, until they disbanded in 1998. However, Heavy Metal Blood is much thicker than water, which lead to them reappearing in 2011 until the current day. Their studio album releases so far are “Cycles” (1994), “No Hope For Humanity…?” (1996), “Counterdculture” (1997) and “Lifetime In Hell” (2016). So, after another seven years wait, they are treating us to an EP called “Chapters”.

The start will immediately have you confused, as “Chapter I” really does sound like a song that QUEENSRŸCHE could have written during their “Empire” era. It is that good, or at least I think so. “Chapter II” is just as good, as it is a pure Power Metal track when it gets off, but in the slower parts it feels like something that could have come from my fellow countrymen GOLDEN EARRING. But it never gets too obvious, you always know you are listening to WICKED MARAYA. So far, so good, as one is apt to say.

“Chapter III” has you thinking in Stoner and Doom Metal terms. It has that enticing rhythm and feel that gives off an air of suspense. It will draw you in, until the more Melodic pieces start shining through. They will either keep you coming, or put you off. I like the fact that WICKED MARAYA isn’t afraid to try and mix the different influences. I think this is also the right time to mention that all five chapters on “Chapters” are very high in quality. Be it in musicality, atmosphere or build up, they are outstanding. “Chapter IV” has the same feel as “Chapter I”, with addition of the GOLDEN EARRING vibe. The latter is mostly due to the sound of the voice of Lou Falco, who at times does sound quite similar to Barry Hay.

The closer “Chapter V” is another one with a slight QUEENSRŸCHE atmosphere, only this time like they sounded on “Promised Land”. And again WICKED MARAYA makes that sound their own. I like it. A lot, and therefore I can only conclude that I am enamoured with “Chapters”, and do hope that WICKED MARAYA will add a lot more “Chapters” to their musical legacy.