Maul Tide – Visual Plea
In the music world, Canadian band Maul Tide is one of the few bands that still follows its path in a music landscape where algorithms increasingly dictate genre. On their newest album “Visual Plea,” Jake Cummings and Adam McDonald, the duo behind Maul Tide, take their listeners on a musical rollercoaster through various genres, where the album often reads more as a statement against musical uniformity rather than just an album.
From the first notes of “Proximity Yurz,” you know for sure: this won’t be a standard listening experience. The track opens with a stereophonic experience and uplifting guitar part, then drags you into a musical puzzle, where Adam McDonald’s drums provide both structure and chaos. Jake Cummings’ guitar waves from loving whispers to unprecedented aggression, setting the tone for what’s to come. Like “Mmmmmantis,” perhaps a slightly more accessible starting point for the listener. A funky backbone shows how musically brilliant the band leaves many pop hooks behind in favour of pure experimentation that Primus and Zappa could be jealous of. In “Leaking,” Maul Tide seems to let go of the experiments somewhat. An unreal timing that doesn’t sacrifice any melody brings the listener more towards the prog of Alan Parsons, although the duo dares to turn directly towards Scandinavian rock after a brief moment of recognition.
With “Subnet Fisheries,” Maul Tide reaches a peak of post-rock atmosphere and math-rock precision. This tension between beauty and technical superiority broadly characterizes the band’s appeal, often very clearly in the beautifully constructed “Cure Cut,” which dances back and forth between utmost calm and hardest catharsis. A moment of rest halfway through the album. The middle passages of the album pass pleasantly with “Tyranny Sorry Rex,” a track with hypnotizing repetitive guitar lines hidden somewhere that you wouldn’t immediately expect in a corset of tight rock structures. At such a moment, you understand why the term “Subterranean Lizard Jazz” that the band pins on its sleeve suddenly fits sharply and almost obviously.
“Peepin’ On That 2037 Bowlcut Attitude” (yes, that’s really the title) is perhaps the most divisive track on the album – an almost seven-minute chaotic exploration of repetitive guitar loops. Yet there’s no escaping it – slowly but surely it all culminates in the sublime. Those who keep listening win, while others will undoubtedly think: am I still listening to the same track? Yes, indeed. But “Pyramid Addicts” also confuses you; perhaps the most focused and explosive track on the album. Up and down, from left to right. Challenging. The album finally concludes with “Bascada,” which turns out to be the most structured track of the whole. Unpredictably stubborn, technical, and tight: Maul Tide pays no attention to fixed frameworks.
Ultimately, only one small drawback can be found: The album is not easily understood by the average listener. At certain moments, you could say they want to go too wild, for the sake of their willingness to try to execute their musical experimentation without limitations.
“Visual Plea” is reserved for those who can handle not being immediately satisfied. In times when everyone knows what qualities a playlist should have and music is often pre-chewed for us, Maul Tide comes with something that claims the right to be experienced in all its stubbornness. Those who understand it get to hear one of the most uplifting and sincere releases of early 2025. Those who don’t understand it have the right to look for something else, but then miss out on something beautiful. (8/10) (Independent)
