Few self-released albums or demos get the kind of international industry-wide praise that MAELSTROM’s It Was Predestined enjoyed when it was circulated throughout the underground in 2008-2009. That’s why the news of MAELSTROM’s signing to Los Angeles’ Itchy Metal Entertainment (IME) and the announcement of the official digital release of It Was Predestined on Halloween, October 31, 2012, is a truly celebratory event.
IME President Ed Fassio had this to say about MAELSTROM’s crosscutting appeal:
“To create anything that appeals across the ages is challenging. Commercially, new styles take time to be accepted and caution must be taken to avoid becoming too trendy. Yet history has proven, nobody can argue with the wide appeal of great music.”
In particular, Fassio credits the ability of heavy metal to attract new fans decade after decade. As this audience continues to grow, so does their affinity to the genre and that synergy seems to hinge on particular songs and styles that fuel the appeal. Such is the case of IME’s latest addition from Long Beach, New York: Genre bending band MAELSTROM, a hybrid fusing of Thrash, Death, Power, and Prog – creating a cinematic styling which nearly forges its own sub-genre.
Formed in the tumultuous fire storm known as the eighties, MAELSTROM took note of the European underground, blending classical melodies, heavy rhythms, and theatrical vocal progressions into a formation that would hail as the top drawing local act of their time. Honing their signature sound, MAELSTROM’s reach expanded well beyond domestic borders, gaining popularity and promise around the world until the thrash scene gave way to the Grunge-influenced decade of the nineties.
While the industry changed with the times, Maelstrom’s resolve became even stronger. Re-constructed by founding vocalist/lyricist Gary Peter Vosganian and Guitarist and chief songwriter, (Julliard guest lecturer, and Guitar Player Magazine and UltimateGuitar.com guest columnist), Joey Lodes along with percussionist Daniel Kleffmann – MAELSTROM was born again. This time, the band set out to rekindle their international audience and introduce their tried-and-true formula of metal to an interconnected, cross-cultural marketplace. This ambition and seasoned ability appealed to the team at IME.
“When first introduced to MAELSTROM, we put particular focus on production quality, use of original melody and specific evidence that their art could transcend beyond a particular highlight in history,” explains Fassio.
What Itchy Metal Entertainment found was an extremely well-networked band commanding over 30,000 Facebook “Likes” with phenomenal musical structure, business acumen and multidimensional demographic potential. Recently named to Terrorizer Magazine’s List of Top Two “Best unsigned Bands” worldwide, it seems that the industry is equally convinced that the world is once again, ready for MAELSTROM.
Through their new relationship with Itchy Metal Entertainment and dedication to success, MAELSTROM is a group fired up and headed to the next level.
“We firmly believe that awesome music is timeless, but that’s often demonstrated in mainstream capacities,” says Fassio. “We feel the same principle can apply in the underground scene and this band is hell-bent on proving it. MAELSTROM allows new direction for the label and revives fresh possibilities for the genre.”
Stream It Was Predestined in its entirety at MAELSTROM – bandcamp
International Critical Praise for It Was Predestined:
Named in the Top two Unsigned Bands Worldwide – Terrorizer
Demo of the Month, January 2009 – Rock Hard
“Fusing a dizzying array of styles – death, power, thrash and prog-metal – with cinematic elements, jaw-dropping musicality and Gary Vosganian’s eccentric, staccato vocals, cult New York band Maelstrom have ended a two-decade hiatus to present something thunderously unique.” – Metal Hammer
A symphony of progressiveness the likes of which has pretty much never been articulated, invented, or heard, before now.- Martin Popoff – Editor in Chief BWBK
“This band is on their way to becoming the next big thing.” – Metal Asylum
“Pagan/folk/viking/whatever metal has fallen out of favor since it momentarily exploded onto the scene in 2008-2009, but every so often a band in that micro-genre comes along that piques our interest. Long Island crew MaelstroM have some of the trademarks of that genre – vocals that occasionally soar, fantasy-themed artwork, keyboards – but theirs is a brand that’s distinctly thrashier and a whole lot less cheesy than most of what we hear. Great guitar work, too.” – Metal Sucks
“These tracks will leave you breathless…their power is undeniable” – The Gauntlet
“It Was Predestined is a flattering combination of old school and new school power, and it works surprisingly well.” – Metal Review
“Maelstrom is not your typical power metal act and It Was Predestined is going to strike a nerve with classic fans.” – Teeth of the Divine
“MaelstroM are not only back, they’re stronger than ever and dedicated to bringing their wildly inventive brand of metal to a new generation of listeners.” – Ultimate Guitar
“Maelstrom are a mean and snarly power metal band, and they aren’t afraid to keep things raw instead of sparkly.” – Unrestrained!
“If you love huge, massively melodic metal with an off the wall touch, ‘It Was Predestined’ is worth a listen.” – Chronicles of Chaos
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* To read Stone’s review of It Was Predestined, click on the link below!
MAELSTROM “It Was Predestined” – 3 Song EP Makes It’s Epic Metal Presence Known
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(Source: ClawHammer PR & Maelstrom)
* For more info on MAELSTROM, click on the link below!
Official facebook: MaelstroM
http://www.reverbnation.com/c./poni/142528055
LONG LIVE MAELSTROM.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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