RSS Feed


MANIAX
Open The Gate EP

Self-released (2018)
Rating: 5/10

Maniax is a thrash metal act from Argentina, and Open The Gate is their second release following on from 2015 EP Maníacos. The band is a solid speed metal outfit, but they haven’t done themselves any favours on this release by recording a cover of Michael Sembello’s ‘She’s A Maniax’ (the Flashdance theme). It’s all done in good jest, but I would rather concentrate on the other two tracks.

The opener, ‘Hellbound’, is a speedy, balls-to-the-wall thrasher hinting at a mid-80s style of basic, by-numbers speed metal complete with rather shaky vocal wails from Marcos Leiva, whose style varies from a fist-pumping yelp to a darker, more sinister tone which I actually prefer.

On the whole it’s pretty much a speeded up power metal style featuring hasty drum work courtesy of Facundo Gonzalez and some sterling axe work from the twin assault of Maxi Cabrera and Sergio Haylan, who harken back to the hazy days of crusty, leather-clad speed metal, providing nice melodies and slower tempos to work well in tandem with the faster segments. Hints of old Metallica and Megadeth spring to mind as the combo entices us with its energy and spicy, nifty framework which at times does sound a bit light on the ground.

The same could also be said for ‘Heavy Metal Butcher’, which leans more towards a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-style groove. A standard pacey gallop provides enough vim as Leandro Tuerca’s bass trundles nicely, but again the vocals let this one down, lacking any real balance as Leiva shakily paves his way through this track which hints at classic Iron Maiden and, again, older Megadeth stylings. The solos are effective if a tad tuneless at times, but the melody is strong although overly familiar.

The aforementioned cover of ‘She’s A Maniax’ begins in awfully, speeding in amateurish fashion and heavily flawed in its vocal abilities, especially with the chorus. The novelty of this one wears off quickly, and surely it would’ve been far better to have included another original number on the record?

Overall, Open The Gate comes across as a rather lightweight thrash workout, lacking any real production value, which in turn means that the sound in general is rather weak. The EP does bring some decent axe work and steady, albeit harmless rhythms, but at the helm of it all Marcos Leiva is not an accomplished vocalist and I’m just not sure that this is a band who can provide enough entertainment or quality to make a full-length release. But we’ll have to wait and see.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share