The Headbangers Herald: Veil of Maya - Matriarch Album Review

Album Review
Veil Of Maya
Matriarch (2015)

1) Nyu
2) Leeloo
3) Ellie
4) Lucy
5) Mikasa
6) Aeris
7) Three-Fifty
8) Phoenix
9) Matriarch
10) Teleute
11) Daenerys
12) Lisbeth

Armed with a new singer, Veil Of Maya return with what is in my opinion, their best effort yet...

First Impressions...

Technical musicianship has always been a staple of the metal world and with play-throughs and rig rundowns running rampart through the internets, bands that push what is possible rhythmically and harmonically find wide praise from music lovers and musicians alike. For me, founder and guitarist, Mark Okubo, has been a great inspiration for unconventional rhythms, obscure riffage and the cause of many hours of hand-crampingly, headache inducing guitar pro sessions trying to recreate his work.

Initially, it was purely the musicianship that lead me to VOM as then singer, Brandon Butler, was fatiguing in his vocal delivery, never really exploring alternate ranges or styles. In stark contrast, the addition of Lukas Magyar's exceptional vocal talents has helped VOM hone their craft by blending absolute brutality with soaring melody and creating a more cohesive and polished sound overall.

Vocals...

Magyar's vocals have reinvented this band and almost certainly opened them up to a much wider audience while revitalising their diehard fan-base. The way the tracks cascade between relentless beat-downs, bellowing with intense but articulate screaming and then stunningly clean, emotive melodies that dance between the syncopated onslaught is just hauntingly enjoyable.

Upon first listening, it's easy to assume that the numerous styles of vocals, layering and generally frantic pace would be near impossible to produce live, but hit up good ol' Youtube and it's hard not to be impressed with Magyar's breath control and his choice of which vocal lines to perform live. Magyar's confidence in his ability is quickly evident and knowing that these songs can be delivered with the conviction and flair displayed on record solidifies him as easily one of the top metal vocalists right now.

Instruments...

The unholy trinity of Marc Okubo, Sam Applebaum (drums) and Danny Hauser (bass) create some of the most interesting compositions in the genre and they've made a great transistion into a more melodic element, without losing that signature VOM sound. Disjointed riffs that aggressively ebb and flow, hurling the listener around like a your dog's favourite chew toy. I think what makes these tracks so addictive is the almost unsettling way it keeps you on edge. A snare hit in an odd place, a major 7th between chugs, it's never predictable, building tension until the
perfectly timed release of a chorus or atmospheric moment where the simpler but still inventive rhythm's takeover and the vocals soar.

Hauser's bass isn't always very evident as is so often the case in metal, but some great tapping licks and chordal work makes the use of the crazy 7 string bass he wields. Applebaum's blisteringly precise polyrhythms and constantly switching grooves keep things exciting and are a perfect match for the eclectic output from Okubo's guitar.

This band is a muso's treat, without crossing the line in to elitism.

Verdict...

This could easily be one of the best albums of 2015. Not only has the lineup change brought VOM to
a larger audience, it's bridged another gap between technical metal and the mainstream. There's something for all heavy music fans here. The only downside is that the first few tracks can be a tad relentless, with the heavy/melody mix being weighed towards the beatdowns. This will be a balance that they'll continue to explore and perfect in albums to come.

Matriarch makes Veil Of Maya one of the most exciting bands at the moment and if you haven't already, it's time to get on the bandwagon.