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Maestrick: Espresso Della Vita: Lunare
Maestrick - Espresso Della Vita: Lunare Album Art

Maestrick: Espresso Della Vita: Lunare

Melodic Progressive Metal
5.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 04.05.2025 | Released: 02.05.2025

Formed better than two decades ago, Maestrick hails from São José do Rio Preto. Between 2010 and 2024, the quartet has dropped four EPs and two full length albums, including 2018's Espresso della vita: Solare, the predecessor to this year's sequel, Espresso della vita: Lunare. The new album features new guitarist Guilherme Henrique (Novamhen, Order of Destruction), and guest appearances by vocalists Tom Englund (Evergrey), Jim Grey (Caligula's Horse), and Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot).

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W.E.T.

Vocalist Fábio Caldeira explains: Thirteen years ago, we began what would become Espresso Della Vita, a project that would tell the story of a one-day train journey as a metaphor for our journey in life. It was divided into two albums: Solare (daytime) and Lunare (nighttime) ... Lunare is our most ambitious, grandiose work and the ultimate representation of our vision as artists to date. We are storytellers, musical illustrators of scenes, landscapes and feelings. We could not be prouder and more excited for what this journey will bring!


Taking inspiration from both audio and visual media, including to the former, Dream Theater, Haken, Spirit Box, and the latter: Tim Burton, Christopher Nolan, and Guillermo del Toro, Maestrick blends melodic, heavy, and power metal with film score like arrangements for a cinematic progressive metal experience. For this listener their music dovetails between Dream Theater and Kamelot.

After this I would add that the album is both diverse and yet wholistic wherein, by example, subtle beauty can be juxtaposed with abrupt heaviness, Sunflower Eyes followed by The Root. Then there's songs like Ghost Casino and Agbara that have these playful and robust poly-rhythms from the bass and drums that give them a festive feeling.

Lunare concludes with the 18 minute, prog finale, The Last Station (I a.m. Leaving) wherein Maestrick names the traveler on the train as Dantes, a reference to, as the band explains, "Italian writer Dante Alighieri, who went from hell to paradise, all of us, sometimes in the same day, go from paradise to purgatory, to hell."

All said, with Espresso Della Vita: Lunare, Brazil's Maestrick demonstrates that they are a progressive metal force to be reckoned with. From creativity to composition, talent to musicianship, Lunare is an impressive and enjoyable listening experience. Quite recommended. (Frontiers Music should reissue its predecessor, Solare.



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The Take Away

With Espresso Della Vita: Lunare, Brazil's Maestrick demonstrates that they are a progressive metal force to be reckoned with. From creativity to composition, talent to musicianship, Lunare is an impressive and enjoyable listening experience. Quite recommended.

Support the artist, click the link below to buy the album at Amazon (US site) in your favorite format.

Purchase Maestrick - Espresso Della Vita: Lunare at Amazon
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