Track of the Day: Maestro – Black Bishop (2023)
With over three decades of experience beneath their belts, Dutch rockers Maestro know how to hit you between the eyes with powerful rock tunes. Originally founded in 1989 by guitarist Orion Roos, Maestro fuses classic rock and metal sounds into a unique, high-energy melodic metal meets hard rock style. Yet, while Maestro was technically formed about 34 years ago, it was only in the summer of 2008 that Orion Roos and René van Zonneveld began spending more time on the project. Now, Wouter Zuiderveld (vocals, guitars and keyboard), Peter Douwenga (bass), and Jahrin Kersten (drums) join Roos in releasing new material as Maestro. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Black Bishop’.
Not only the first release for Maestro in 2023, ‘Black Bishop’ is the first release from the band since 2021. Penned and recorded as a demo track in 1989, ‘Black Bishop’ has a few years on it and it was covered by the Dutch cult metal band Vortex so people may have heard the tune already. Yet, Vortex merely covered the track and now Maestro is releasing it as a “properly recorded” single. Let us not forget, Maestro does not play covers enhancing their authenticity and innovation through original material.
Heavily inspired by bands like KISS, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Queen, ‘Black Bishop’ retains a strong 80s flair in its melody. In fact, the nostalgia reverberates around listeners almost dragging us back to the days of iconic hard rock and metal. As with the single ‘Something Else’, a tinge of Guns N’ Roses slithers through the arrangement; however, the hard-hitting guitars, drums and vocals slather everything with a strong metal tone. One aspect I adore about this song is how each instrument stands on its own only to join in a harmonic whole at the end.
A rollercoaster of a song, Maestro moves from heavy metal and head-pounding rock to a softer, smoother and more mellifluous tone in the middle easing the frenzy of ‘Black Bishop’ slightly. They give us time to hear a stunning guitar solo before the bass and drums crescendo into a heart-stopping pump of rock ending off with a bold frenzy of sound.
Crawling into your ear, stomping about your brain and sending shivers down your spine before leaving you breathless, Maestro proves 80s hard rock belongs in modern-day society.
For more from Maestro, check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
