Maximilian Wentz takes listeners on an eye-opening expedition. With every song he releases, the multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter never ceases to surprise you. The duality of extreme and beauty, black and white, is so beautifully explored, blurred, and distorted in Mare. Wentz explores the drastic contrast of raw vulnerability and melodic truth under the umbrella of metal is something you simply won’t get elsewhere. Wentz has a gift of weaving, what in others’ eyes, contradicting and turbulent ideas into one consistent storytelling. And he does so so seamlessly and authentically. Mare is an inspired album through and through.

From a heartfelt intimate guitar backdrop to unapologetic vocals to epic, stadium-filling metal progression, and then back to the silence and truth, Wentz challenges what you imagine music can be. “Centerpiece” opens with a darker sinister soundscape before its optimistic punk rock chorus picks up its beat. Soul-stirring screams and haunting vocal fries hovers its medieval impression with a hint of his Spanish root being so turbulently woven together. The track is a beautiful chaos that gives you goosebumps.

“Your Silhouette” begins in evocative massive melodies that pull your heartstrings, while as it exhilarates and drifts into catharsis and extreme before it falls to a vacuum of raw storytelling. “World Signal” marks a epic, cinematic momentum in the album. Heartfelt, melancholy guitar riffs flow through intensified percussions while emotive vocals establish a deeper connection with listeners. It radiates the turmoil of punk catharsis and dark pop vulnerability in its vast metal aesthetic.

Read our interview with Maximilian Wentz below, where we chat about his debut solo album, Mare.

Punk Head: I love the drastic contracts of emotions in Mare. What was the creative process like for this album?

Maximilian Wentz: The creative process for this album was incredibly fun and unpredictable. This is because it was my first time recording every instrument by myself in the studio. Prior to this I always entered the studio either as a solo acoustic artist or as part of a band/duo. Every song on the album started off as an acoustic idea and was then converted into a full band hard rock/metal track for first time after I recorded every instrument (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano). What truly made the creative process fun is getting to see every song evolve with each new layer added. I would start off by recording scratch guitars, then drums, then actual guitars, followed by bass, then piano, and finally vocals. It truly felt like I was building the house that is my sound brick by brick. Ultimately, through this experience I have learned so much about myself as an artist and the recording process I have grown to love.

PH: I could definitely pick up a few influences while listening. However, who would you quote as inspirations for this album?

MW: The main influences that inspired my creative process on this album were Sevendust, Avenged Sevenfold, Demon Hunter, and Opeth. This is because I have always loved bands that blend metal with beautifully catchy melodies.

PH: Which song do you like the best and why?

MW: My favorite song on the album is actually a tie between “World Signal” and “Thin.” This is because I feel these two songs best represent both sides of who I am as an artist at the moment. “World Signal” is a straightforward hard rock track with tons of energy, bright melodies, and catchy vocal/guitar hooks that will get the crowd moving right away. On the other side of things, I love “Thin” because it showcases my ability to go in a much darker, heavier direction. While still presenting vocal and guitar hooks throughout its 7 minutes, Thin brings with it an extremely dark atmosphere, crushingly heavy riffs, eerie melodic singing, and throat shredding growls. Overall, I feel these two best tracks represent what I love showcasing in my music, that being duality.

PH: Can you tell us more about you as an artist?

MW: I grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and started playing music at the age of 6. While my first instrument technically was piano, I switched over to guitar shortly after starting due to the school I was taking lessons at shitting down. Over the years I would continue playing guitar and would eventually start singing, playing piano, bass, and drums. I developed a love for metal at the age of 10 after my mother showed me Slipknot performing live on TV. I soon started forming bands and would perform across New England in several over the years including, BunkerHill, Calumon, and 51st State, while also performing as a solo acoustic artist. After releasing several acoustic singles, I decided to rocked my solo metal album Mare and here we are today.

PH: What is the one thing that you’d like your fans to know about you?

MW: As someone who has gone through their share of hardships and struggles, music has always been a life-saving creative outlet for me. Most of my songs revolve around aspects of my life, including the songs on Mare. It is through my connection with music that I have also been able to overcome those hardships, make new friends, and see the good in the world. I know there are thousands of people out there who can relate to my songs, people who are going through the same hardships as myself, if not even worse. To those people, I hope my music makes you feel like you are not alone and that you can overcome any obstacles in your life. Even in our darkest moments, we must remember that there is good in the world, and that there is always hope