MaYaN – Antagonise (2014)

For those who haven’t heard about MaYaN I’d only clarify that they selfdefine it as „symphonic progressive death metal“, but it seems that there are many and different influences. Probably most of us have met them through the main groups of the musicians. The faces behind MaYaN are Mark Jansen, Laura Macri, Rob van der Loo, Henning Basse, Jack Driessen, Frank Schiphorst, Ariën van Weesenbeek- known mostly as current or ex members of Epica, After Forever, Symmetry, Delain. They started extremely strongly with the debut from 2011- „Quarterpast“, as their main idea is to create more heavy things. And when your start is that strong, you raise the bar. Expectations for „Antagonise“ however are fully justified. A little more than an hour of rough and melodic vocals, beautiful female parties, wire and meaningful lyrics. It is great when a band affects the deep subjects and have success in it. The basic idea in „Antagonise“ is to show the current situation in society, where freedom and privacy are limited. Lies, propaganda, secrets, fear and everything that keeps us under fictional control. And when you know the main concept, everything in the album now clarifies; listening to the lyrics, you may change your views about certain things.
My personal vision when I listen to „Antagonise“ is a collision of forces, chaos, apocalypse let’s say. A dark storm that drags you along with rhythm. „Bloodline forfeit“ emerges darkness, descends fog in anticipation of destruction. In the sequence of songs, all of them great,  the speed in ones, and the „elemental“ silencing in others drag us into the recesses of our imagination and recreate the concept. And it’s not an autosuggestion. Those songs for me that distinguish from others are „Redemtion“, „Lone Wolf“ , and the incredibly delicate, protruding with the beautiful voice of Laura Macri „Insano“, in which she shows us the depths of her vocal capabilities, and even in Italian. Things are getting a little serious semantically and musically in „Human sacrifice“. And just while I’m thinking that the song reminds me of  Alexander Krull and Atrocity, Mark Jansen utters (at least as I overheat) „A war feels atrocity.“
„The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun“- the message at the beginning of „Enemies of free“ again stays faithful with the concept. The album ends with „Faceless spies„, the first single that appeared and, according to the words of the musicians themselves, their favourite song from „Antagonise“.
The perfect ending to a well-produced album. „Antagonise“ throws us in reflections, and even we didn’t know the main idea, it leaves us to speculate and to build our own interpretations. MaYaN is exactly the side project in which Mark Jansen and company pour down their heavier ideas, along with carefully selected psychological lyrics. After „Quarterpast“ MaYaN left me with higher expectations, and after „Antagonise“, I dare say, there is nothing that frustrates me. We will expect even better third album and, hopefully, with even more rough vocals.
„Antagonise“ is officially out on January 31, 2014 through Nuclear Blast.

9/10

MaYaN / Tim Tronckoe photography