About Me
"Decline of the West" is the new album by the Dark Metal band Maelström. Nihilism, materialism, the decay of old religious institutions and the death of bourgeois conformist values are some of themes dealt with on this work. Perhaps it wouldn't be pretentious to say that it might be the soundtrack of a civilization on the verge of its collapse. The album will be released officialy on the 19th of May by Force Majeure Records ( www.forcemajeure.com.br ).
Maelström came into existence in 1994, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The band's name was taken from the tale "A Descent into the Maelström", by Edgar Allan Poe, and the early influences were the heaviest metal acts of the time. From the band's first incarnation, only Alexandre P. Cegalla (guitars) has remained.
The first EP, "Sea of Darkness", was released in 2001. It incorporates a great assortment of underground music elements, not fitting in any specific genre, and combines heavy guitar riffs and solos with dark lyricism, sombre keyboards and chorused clean guitars. The EP was praised by the brazilian press and also by the north american website Rough Edge.
In 2001, the band released its first full-length CD, "Maelström". Besides the guitars, Cegalla recorded the vocals and the keyboards. The album displays a music style that ranges from metal to gothic rock; from classical music to progressive rock, and was acclaimed by the press in Brazil and other countries.
The next step on Maelströms continuous evolution was the EP "Illuminati" (2004). The EP also features new members Sérgio Mazul (vocals) and Julian Enrique (drums). The songs were now even darker and more aggressive, brimming with variations that added intensity to the melodies. In their turn, the lyrics explore arcane and metaphysical conceptions in an unusual fashion. Around this time the band did the "Legions of Hades Tour", playing many live shows in their home country. The most important of them took place when the band opened for the world-wide famous Moonspell in the city of São Paulo.
In 2007, Maelström releases its second album, provocatively entitled "Decline of the West". Besides Cegalla and Mazul, the CD features Felipe Nester (drums) and Carlos Spinello (bass). The new CD defines the bands style: heavy guitar riffs and fast drum beats together with sepulchral vocals and dark keyboards, evoking a unique and intense sonority, in which darkness and light, Cosmos and Chaos alternate themselves.
Although the band stands against most values that our society holds "sacred", its members have absolutely no relations with any political ideology or current philosophy. With new member J. Augusto (keyboards), the band prepares to play live shows.
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UPCOMING SHOW:
Maelström's advert on May special edition #100 of Roadie Crew , the biggest metal magazine in Brazil.
