Maat - As We Create the Hope from Above (2014)

   It seems like Egyptian mythology could be considered as an alternative topic in death metal, since after Nile, Apophis, Coffin Texts; Maat also felt inspired by the whole thing. Usually this is represented only in the lyrics and the visuals, but Maat also embedded a few soft melodies with antic touch into their music. 
   "As We Create the Hope from Above" could serve as a definition for the modern sound of death metal. Old school basics, strong brutal death influence, dominant blast beats, crystal clear sound and high quality production. The main themes and the intensity are comparable to late Obscenity. For the fans of the modern aspect of the genre it definitely could be a potential favorite. No circumlocution, no attitudinizing, and the complete avoidance of death metal clichés by the seemingly unusual concept. However, the concept pick combined with the actual trend keeping ambition also puts the band into a neutral status. Nothing grotesque, gross, too insane or obscure, and of course this could be said only by compared to the past of the style. This so called "neutral" trend is originated from the mid '00s, when many technical and progressive brutal death bands started to experiment with something new (mostly unsuccessfully) and the main inspiration of Maat could be also rooted in those times. In their case it's a moderated, more tradition keeping (meant about the traditional sound of death metal), and therefore more successful form of pathfinding. Eventually this trend led to the hipsterization in extreme metal, another less fortunate phenomenon, that fortunately Maat avoided. If it's about skills, composition or quality, "As We Create the Hope from Above" is the work of professionals, intense, diverse, highly enjoyable, and by its "rule-breaking" features it might be also compatible for wider metal audiences, but by long term listening the album's sterile neutrality might leave some empty feeling behind for the old school fans of the genre.