Review of “Rise To Power” by Maatkare
Prepare yourselves for a monumental debut as Maatkare crashes onto the death metal scene with their first full-length album, “Rise To Power,” released on October 18, 2024. This all-female death metal force combines brutal aggression and ancient Egyptian themes, creating a sonic experience that stands shoulder to shoulder with genre legends like Nile, Arch Enemy, and Behemoth. With “Rise To Power,” Maatkare has crafted an album that feels both ancient and immediate, bringing timeless stories of conflict and legacy into a fierce, melodic death metal arena.
The album is more than a musical release; it’s a journey through the sands of history, retelling epic battles and legendary tales from ancient Egypt through the power of death metal. Tracks like “War Before Peace” and “May The Gods Bear Witness” dive into themes of warfare, vengeance, and divine strength, marrying Janneke de Rooy’s gut-wrenching growls with Georgia Bell’s soaring guitar work. Their combined power delivers a gut punch to listeners, wrapped in riff-heavy, meticulously layered compositions.
Janneke de Rooy, the powerhouse vocalist from Beyond the Pale, leads Maatkare’s sound with her raw and commanding presence. Her vocals are unrelenting, striking a perfect balance between guttural depth and melodic clarity, capturing both the brutality and mystique of ancient Egyptian tales. Guitarist Georgia Bell (formerly of Pretty Little Enemy) shreds through each track with precision, weaving intricate melodies that add dimension to Maatkare’s brutal soundscapes. The riffs are relentless yet finely tuned, amplifying the band’s thematic explorations with the weight they deserve. Holding down the low end, bassist Amie Chatterley (Dakesis, WomenOwar) adds a powerful resonance that grounds the music, making every track feel both crushing and complete.
Drawing inspiration from bands like Scarab, Kataklysm, and Behemoth, Maatkare pushes the boundaries of traditional death metal, creating a sound that is as cerebral as it is aggressive. “Black Death” and the album’s title track, “Rise To Power,” epitomize this mix, blending historical narrative with relentless instrumentation. The title track alone amassed over 13,000 streams within weeks of its release, a testament to the band’s rapidly growing fanbase and their unique sound that has clearly struck a chord.
With their debut album, Maatkare is on a mission to conquer the global metal scene. The release of “Rise To Power” will be followed by a 2025 UK and EU tour, marking Maatkare’s first large-scale live performances. This tour will bring their aggressive sound and historical themes to fans across Europe, promising to solidify their reputation as one of the most compelling new acts in metal.
Get ready to feel the raw, thunderous force of Maatkare. “Rise To Power” is available now on all major streaming platforms, and with an epic tour ahead, Maatkare is a band you won’t want to miss.
