Let’s start off by saying that 'Decapitation Of A Maiden' is a heavy and hench record. One that you can delight in wrecking some neck muscles with. Yet, the intricate detail, progressive death thrash meatiness, lightly layered black/doom elements and blending of genres can’t be ignored.

It came as a very pleasant surprise that at this early stage you can have a band like this which can provide such a professional statement of musical identity and artistic ambition. Released on July 20th, 2023, the album is a journey through intense rhythms, sophisticated guitar work, and compelling lyrical themes. It's a blend of raw energy and refined musicianship, setting a high bar for what is to come in the future.

A good trait you can find in an experienced group of musicians is to not stay in lane 100% of the time, to keep giving you musical sections that hold their core values but also give you some pleasant surprises. Well Maidenhead has this in spades and what an ability to showcase in your songwriting so early on in their release catalogue. Their EP/album 'Decapitation Of A Maiden' (I'm going to call it an album because screw the fine details of a few seconds) has plenty of twists and turns to keep your ears peeled and keep you guessing but impress you with various technical riffs and solos on display. A well decent logo too combined with a unique cool front cover for their album by Repperoni, for a debut, this rises them above a vast amount of bands from the get go.

Maidenhead's journey to the forefront of the metal scene is a tale of persistence, vision, and raw talent. Spearheaded by guitarist Zack Roberts, the band has navigated through various lineup changes since its inception in 2013. Each member, past and present, has contributed uniquely to Maidenhead's sound, culminating in a debut album that not only pays homage to the roots of thrash and death metal but also pushes the boundaries of these genres. The band's final lineup, featuring Zack Roberts, Amanda Scotto, Andre Forero, Sean Hart, and Alex Scofield (as a live musician), has created a synergy that is both powerful and nuanced, evident throughout their debut album.

The only way to do this album justice is to do a track by track analysis so let’s dive right in:

"Cabin in the Woods" - This opening track sets the tone for the album, combining aggressive riffs with dynamic drumming. It's a showcase of Maidenhead's ability to blend speed and melody, creating a sound that is both fierce and infectious. It kicks off akin to Slayers Angel Of Death with a violent guitar riff and drum combo before the frantic solo sets the bands intentions for the listener for the rest of the album. The song is straight up and in your face. With its furious growls and smattering of guitar riff extravagance, it is an instant hit of adrenaline. It also shows that the band put careful thought into the track listing order and has the perfect song to start things off as in the digital age you find most people gravitate towards listening to the first half of albums nowadays.

Have a listen to the album below ->

"Decapitation of a Maiden" - The title track brings a blend of classic thrash vibes with a modern twist. The intro riff springs to this mind Megadeth, the vocals have the right balance of heaviness in the mid range yet able to pack quite a punch with the throaty approach akin to the vocals heard from 'Death' and 'Arch Enemy', even the likes of ‘Dark Tranquility’. That vocal power compliments greatly with the energy the band already provide. In the great solo sections of this song I hear Marty Friedman. There is no lead guitar note that you wince at or wonder why they went down this route, every note and lead/solo section is sublime and raises the stakes each time a section like that starts. The vocals, a mix of growls and melodic elements, work in tandem with the guitars to create a sound that is both brutal and captivating. There are also some nice prominent and solid bass lines throughout this track.

"To Estrange" - Here, Maidenhead explores more complex structures, incorporating elements of progressive thrash. The intro is like a sequel to Slayers 'South Of Heaven' title track, with piercing pinch harmonics that would convince you to sell your soul to the devil. There is some good melody as the song progresses among the death/thrash which again points to good ordering of the tracks on this album that you get something like this mid-way through. Some good drum/bass link ups in this track which I wish more bands would do to carry the listener into the next. I'm hearing mid career Megadeth as the song goes on. The track's shifting tempos and intricate guitar work highlight the band's technical skills.

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This is a good time to talk about the production which has an old school feel coupled with modern sensibilities but don't let that sway you - the sound is a direct nod back to the great thrash albums of the 80s/90s and this comes through in the drums as the foundation layer. The snare is punchy, the cymbals are crisp and never annoying or overbearing and the bass drum has a nice natural feel to it. The whole feel/groove of the drumming is on point too - the drummer gives us really interesting fills and thinks outside the box to keep the songs flowing and knows when to bring the energy back to synergize with the guitar riffs. The bass has this clean thumping sound akin to Toxik 'World Circus' (for any of our thrash lovers). There is a great cohesion to this album that feels fresh yet very respectful to the bands of 30/40 years ago (feeling old now!)

The refinement in this record, clear. The progression, impressive. The mixing/mastering really strikes a perfect balance between rawness and clarity. Let’s get back to the final three engaging tracks that see out the album.

"Psychological Warfare (Violence)" - This track stands out for its use of acoustic elements, adding a new layer of depth to the album and speaking of great production, the acoustic sound from the intro is perfection - reminds me of old Iced Earth and just wish that acoustic section got more time in this song but this is a straight up killer track. Plenty of stops and starts and the solo after the 3rd minute mark is *French kiss*. Maidenhead continuing to show an insane level of attention to every moment as it twists and turns in the darkness. Overall a great arrangement that would sound killer live I bet. The transition from clean to heavy, from death to dark is seamless, showcasing the band's versatility.

"Unchained" - A slower start to this one with more death metal influences come more to the front in this track. The first lead solo starts with a cool sweeping style and progresses into a more bluesy melodic feel before ripping back into a death/thrash type fast verse with great bass drum work and the vocal keep things vicious. The song has a mid section nodding towards the dissonance and atmospheric, cleaving flesh from bone with the group shout of 'Kill Kill Kill'.

The last minute or so showcases how much the vocal style is perfectly suited to the music, with a sort of angry speech of criticism and accusation thinly veiled in the lyrics raising the hairs on the back of the neck. This has such a real Death Metal swagger in the approach as vocalist Amanda threatens to bury the hatchet in the skulls of her enemies.

"Black Lung Regurgitate" – The closer of the album brings a sense of the epic thrash forth with another powerhouse cut in a record with a decent level of variety to it that does stray too far from the core sound. This one is perfectly weighted and paced so as to deliver the narrative with some blackened death touches that might catch you off guard. The cool bass mid section restarts the song and feeds into the closing chapter of the album - feeling dark and brooding throughout as the solo screams and roars like Chris Poland at his best.

This leads us into the final march - that mesmerising lead descends us into the violent shoegaze like bloodbath of a chugging riff finale that questions everything. It really just goes hell for leather. The song's structure and pacing are masterful, leaving the listener wanting more.



Each member of Maidenhead brings their A-game to this album. Zack Roberts and Sean Hart's guitar work is both technically impressive and emotionally charged. The vocals are spat out with venom and Andre Forero's drumming is complex yet tasteful, providing a solid backbone for the songs. "Decapitation Of A Maiden" is an impressive debut from Maidenhead. It's a testament to the band's talent and dedication to their craft. The album is a breath of fresh air in the thrash/death metal scene, offering a unique blend of aggression, technicality, and melody. It sets a high standard for future releases and positions Maidenhead as a band to watch in the extreme metal genre. The mixing allows each instrument to shine, from the punchy drums to the clear, articulate bass lines. Maidenhead manages to not only grab the attention with 'Decapitation Of A Maiden', it manages to keep things interesting.

What Maidenhead can do is frightening, their skill undoubted, a perfect storm whipped up with garish heavy intensity. Track after track of wicked heaviness, layered with incredible instrumental detail and delivered with a throat full of gravel. The only negative is that there are not 2 more tracks on this.

Whatever is to come next, 'Decapitation Of A Maiden' will cast an undeniable shadow over all that Maidenhead makes after this yet I’ve no doubt that time will come to show this is not the highest of heights that Maidenhead is capable of reaching. Dig this debut out and listen to it in all its death thrash glory!

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