German metalcore hopefuls Maroon released the impressive ‘When Worlds Collide’ last year. It was a very solid and promising release indeed, and could leave you with nothing but high hopes for the follow-up.

And where some bands run short of air after a touring circuit like the one Maroon has gone through the past year, these boys have just gone into total creativity mode.

Despite its gloomy title, ‘The Cold Heart of the Sun’ is practically brimming with life and vitality. It’s full of ideas and combines the modern sounds of metalcore with good ol’ fashioned heavy metal and thrash.

What separates the really great bands from the not-so-great bands is often the details, and in the case of Maroon, I just love the way they e.g. add a snippet of Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King (perhaps a nod to Savatage?) here and a piece of Criminally Insane there. Moreover, the fact that it’s not full-speed ahead metalcore and all the by now oh-so-well-known breaks into to half tempo for 45 minutes but also acoustic, sensitive and haunting parts is also a big, big plus in my book.