Finally I had the time to sit down and listen to MAAT’s latest release several times in a row. Active since 2009, they put out their debut EP in 2010 and their debut album in 2014. Then came their sophomore album in 2017. And after a seven year silence, we get “From Origin To Decay”. And all I can say is that the wait was worth it. I assume there were people that thought of MAAT as just another band infusing their brand of music with these characteristics. But to me, their previous albums served as stepping stones to attain the level of maturity MAAT has reached with “From Origin To Decay” that flawlessly combines the egyptian or oriental influences with a massive yet melodic oriented Death Metal. First, the production is exactly what this collection of songs needed. Even though the mastering has little to no dynamics, the overall sound is huge. The strings are detailed and vast at the same time with a thick and elegant (so to speak) guitar tone followed by resonant bass filling the low area of the spectrum. The punchy drum sound tightens everything up for the vocals to soar on top with their low to mid grunts and roars. There are some brilliant melodic passages highlighted by the well balanced mix. Performance wise, I was amazed by Joschi’s bass lines which are non-linear. He manages to accent both the guitar riffs and the drum patterns when needed, keeping the band tied to Björn’s precise and savage drum work. Cristophs’s riffs are delivered with sharpness and precision, as one can hear in his palm muted parts and the unusual lead runs and scales. Baal’s phrasing has a certain rhythmic quality that contributes to the overall pounding of these songs. As I stated above, I think MAAT has come to the point where they have their own identity and character as a result of hard work and constant development. The impeccable blend of their influences has become a trademark sound. I am only looking forward to their next album as I am sure they will keep on delivering the goods. Support the band here: www.facebook.com/maatoffical. And get their album from their label here: www.facebook.com/fdarec