Ever wonder what would happen if death metal and the music of bands such as After Forever and Epica were put into a blender?  Wonder no more, as MaYaN provides an answer.  Originally formed by ex-After Forever members Sander Gommans and Jack Driessen and Epica members Isaac Delahaye, Ari?n Van Weesenbeek, and Mark Jansen, MaYaN is something of a radical departure from their other projects.  However, as evidenced on their debut album Quarterpast, you can’t truly escape your past.

MaYaN’s style of symphonic death metal borrows elements from Epica and After Forever and adds a fairly straightforward approach to death metal.  Throw in the decipherable grunts about themes such as greed, politics, and religion, and one could think that disaster is ahead.  However, that isn’t necessarily the case, as MaYaN goes all out in trying to make its debut respectable, at worst.  Enlisting the likes of Simone Simons (Epica), Floor Janssen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp), and Henning Basse (Sons of Seasons), MaYaN’s identity can be best described as Epica’s evil little brother.  Main vocals on the album are split between Van Weesenbeek and Driessen, with the guests helping provide clean vocals wherever they may be needed, as evidenced on “Course of Life” and “Bite the Bullet.”  MaYaN is not death metal in the truest sense, but there is enough to be able to distinguish itself from just about every band in existence.  Given the number of people contributing vocals, it is also quite amazing that it all works well together, as “Symphony of Aggression” shows.  With a running time of just under 60 minutes however, Quarterpast does run a little long, which shows the band’s want to be in between genres, but also exposes its shortcomings in its death metal leanings.  Its symphonic metal influences also lean dangerously close to its contemporaries, though it does make death metal interesting for those who can’t stomach it.

MaYaN is a band that has established its credibility from its members’ other bands, but with Quarterpast, that credibility is cemented.  Though it still has things to work out before they become a true force, two things are clear: MaYaN makes death metal interesting for the Epica crowd and symphonic metal digestible for the death metal crowd.  There’s something for everyone on Quarterpast, and the Netherlands could have another talked about band in MaYaN.

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*Comments:

1.  Symphony of Aggression
2.  Mainstay of Society
3.  Quarterpast
4.  Course of Life
5.  The Savage Massacre
6.  Essenza di Te
7.  Bite the Bullet
8.  Drown the Demon
9.  Celibate Aphrodite
10.  War on Terror
11.  Tithe
12.  Sinner’s Last Retreat

Total playing time: 59:08

Release Date: May 20, 2011
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

MaYaN - Quarterpast

Reviewer: Peter

August 7, 2011