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I first heard of Maul through forums online right after their 2022 debut full-length, Seraphic Punishment, was released. I checked out the band after seeing praise for the release, also finding a polished and impressive album filled with great riffs and solid songwriting. Now in 2024 we have full-length number two, entitled In the Jaws of Bereavement, their first with 20 Buck Spin, a label which generally resonates with my fondness of death metal and rarely disappoints.

This new effort by Maul, however, disappoints. The riffs are more simplistic, and the leads feel less potent. There is a lack of inspiration in this collection of tracks, a stark contrast from their 2022 release. However, In the Jaws of Bereavement has the right ammunition to be a strong album. Look at the cool album cover. The general sound of the album is beefy and heavy. The vocals are very dynamic, which helps ward off any feeling of boredom while listening. But at the same time, these vocals often seem to imitate the sounds of Chris Barnes, which I do not find a flattering comparison. At times, I could imagine that I was listening to one of those later-era Six Feet Under albums like Undead. The Acacia Strain's Vincent Bennett does guest vocals on the opening, title track, which further emphasizes a gravitational pull towards a more simplified and blunt direction almost leaning into deathcore at times. While I also found this guest vocal performance undesirable, it did influence me to go listen to the latest material from The Acacia Strain, a band who never held my attention. I was astonished to find that I found their latest material, both the full-length from last year as well as the EP, is far more interesting than what Maul have put out here. Did you know that The Acacia Strain put out a doom-forward EP last year called Failure Will Follow? It isn't bad, so thanks Maul, for pointing me towards something I didn't expect.

I don't see enough lineup shifting to warrant such a downwards shift in quality from Maul two years after their rather impressive first full-length, Seraphic Punishment. I am left wondering if this record was simply too rushed or if the band just wanted to try something different, but this is a forgettable follow-up to a solid debut. There is a great sense of emptiness in the writing here. Perhaps leaning more into atmosphere and working to develop stronger riffs and leads will lead them back in the right direction. I hope that the band will consider these points when working on their next work, because they have proven that they are very capable in the past.