Two simultaneous new releases from this truly unique, one-of-a-kind, Massachusetts-based progressive band. MotW incorporate elements of metal, prog metal, death metal, and jazz, using male and female vocalists. The effect, at times, is a bit jarring given all the whiplash-stricken stylistic changes, but the scope of this band is something that can only be called a phenomena.
As uneven as these discs are, they are nothing if not eclectic. Favorite tune has got to be "They Aren't All Beautifull" (sic), if for no other reason than the soon-to-be-immortal lyric "Drag me through love's excrement." That about says it all, huh? These two releases also represent a step up in production quality over the previous effort that I've heard, "My Fruit Psychobells." Impossible to digest on one listen, and just as hard to classify, Maudlin of the Well are a progressive band in every sense of the word. If they could just streamline their sound (I'm thinking incorporating ALL of their diverse elements into each composition as opposed to doing "a death metal song," then "an ethereal, female-fronted song," then "an instrumental free form jazz jam," etc.), then they could truly put their amazing talent to the test. At any rate, definitely a band to watch.