I have no problem with bands that want to try and replicate the sound of their peers – especially if their good – but when bands merely want to thrash out Funeral For A Friend b-sides you know something is clearly wrong with the world. Belgian’s The Maple Room are clearly a talented bunch, and that’s what makes ‘Uncover Everyone’ a frustrating little beast. To be honest, I listened to this record half expecting the riff to ‘Streetcar’ to be busted out at any second – that’s how similar these bands are.
The worst part is the band’s bio, which claims: “Heartfelt melodies, groundbreaking moshparts and an all out intensity, put in a blender and blasted out with a passion rarely seen; that’s somehow their trademark.” Sadly this kind of music is always seen – it’s the sort of stuff that’s sadly taken over the world. It’s passionless and devoid of any soul. It’s recycling what’s popular, failing to sprinkle any kind of originality on proceedings at all. It’s a shame, because many of the riffs suggest the band are capable of so much more. Sadly, I don’t want to hear another band like this and if I did, I’d listen to FFAF instead.
www.purevolume.com/themapleroom
Funtime Records
Paul