The Demo Review:
Maelstrom There are currently 1 Reviews of this Demo.
Average Rating: 4
Band Name: Maelstrom
Demo Title: Maelstrom
Band Members: Alexandre Cegalla (Guitars, Keyboards & Vocals), Augusin de Carmo (Bass), Stephano di Borgia (Drums & Percussion)
Location: Rio de Janiero, Brazil
  • Email for This Artist
  • Official Web Site for This Artist
  • Discuss on the Metal Judgment Web Board

    • Musashi's Review:
    As a rule, I tend to like all things Brazilian: women, jiu-jitsu, food, beaches, etc. This CD is no exception. Maelstrom is really the solo endeavor of Alexandre Cegalla. He apparently has a hard time keeping people in his band, so he does it all himself. It seems to work for him, but I generally prefer the feel of a band that is more egalitarian. When I think of Brazilian music, I tend to think of Antonio Carlos Jobim or Sepultura. Maelstrom is unlike either of those.

    Cegalla sights influences such as Pantera, Metallica, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. Pretty standard really, but it does not give you any idea what the music sounds like because those are everybody's influences. I think Cegalla owes a lot to popular 80's metal. I hear influences like Dio, Dokken, Ozzy and Yngwie. The music takes you back to the days when guitars players were trying to out shred each other yet at the same time trying to sell records. I hear the lush keyboards of someone trying to disguise his desire to show off in the framework of a commercial-friendly song.

    That said, the musicianship is great. Cegalla is a great guitar player with chops to spare. He also knows how to compliment his playing by enlisting a great drummer like di Borgia. There are some really fantastic drum and guitar parts on this CD that make it worth buying. Cegalla at times reminds me of Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde and George Lynch all rolled into one. There are lots of nice squawking harmonics and shredding little solos and riffs throughout this CD.

    Unfortunately, the CD does have some low points. There are too many slow keyboard passages for my taste and Cegalla's vocals are blah. I think Cegalla should consider editing out some of the longer and slower passages and hiring a real singer to belt out the songs. Cegalla sounds like a bad black metal wannabe. Although the music can be called "dated", I prefer to think of it as "retro." Put an Ozzy or Dio sound-a-like in front of this band and we are talking headbanger's ball all over again.
    4 out of 5

    [- Metal Judgment Home -]    [- Email Metal Judgment -]
    ©2001 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.