Thirteen years. Two albums. One huge journey. Brazilian Prog Metal band Maestrick are back with what might just be the most ambitious album of their career. Espresso Della Vita: Lunare is the second part of their long-in-the-making concept, and it is absolutely worth the wait.
Maestrick – Espresso Della Vita: Lunare
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Ash Nash
Back in 2018, they released Espresso Della Vita: Solare — a colourful, theatrical, and optimistic record that felt like a celebration of life and discovery. Now comes Lunare, and this time the mood has shifted.
It is darker, heavier, more complex and more mature. Where Solare was all about beginnings and light, Lunare deals with the messier, more difficult side of life. It is intense and emotional, and in many ways even more powerful.
Maestrick have never been easy to pin down, and that is part of what makes them so exciting. Formed in São José do Rio Preto in 2006, they take inspiration from everywhere. Think Queen’s drama mixed with Dream Theater’s technical skill. Add in Brazilian folk, Latin percussion, classic rock, huge harmonies, and theatrical flair, and you get something truly unique.
But really, Maestrick only sound like themselves, and Lunare proves that more than ever.
The album kicks off with A Very Weird Beginning and it really lives up to the name. There are waltz-like rhythms, circus-style melodies, cinematic strings and a dreamlike atmosphere.
Every track feels like a different scene in a film. There is the chaos of Upside Down, the creepy carnival feel of Boo and the trippy storytelling of Ghost Casino. Nothing stays in one place for long, and that is exactly the point.
Even with all the musical twists and turns, there is a real heart to this record. Vocalist Fábio Caldeira puts everything into his performance. He switches between soft and soaring, calm and emotional, sometimes all within one song.
He plays the part of Dante, the character at the centre of the story, who boards a train and travels through memories, pain and realisations. It is a metaphor for life, but it never feels forced or overdone. You connect with it because it feels honest.
The rest of the band are on top form too. Guilherme Carvalho’s guitar work is sharp and expressive. Renato ‘Montanha’ Somera brings personality and groove to the bass. Drummer Heitor Matos is incredibly versatile, effortlessly shifting from jazz-influenced patterns to full-on metal power. And then there are the vocal harmonies, full and rich, adding a real warmth that balances the complexity of the music.
Lyrically and thematically, this is heavy stuff. The band deal with topics like addiction, racism, abuse and generational trauma with sensitivity and depth. Sunflower Eyes is heartbreaking and gentle. Penitência, sung in Portuguese, is one of the most personal and moving tracks they have done. It feels like a confession, and it hits hard.
The album closes with The Last Station (I Am Leaving), where we finally learn the character’s name — Dante. It is a clear nod to the writer Dante Alighieri and his journey through hell, purgatory and paradise.
The symbolism is well used. We all go through those emotional extremes in life, sometimes all in one day. And just like that, the story that began with Solare reaches its end. The two albums complete each other perfectly.
Looking at Maestrick’s earlier work, like Unpuzzle and Solare, Lunare feels like everything has clicked into place. It is bigger in scale, deeper in meaning and more confident in every way. This is not just Prog Metal anymore. It is something more expressive and open.
There are echoes of bands like Haken, Gentle Giant, Ayreon and Muse, but Maestrick takes all of that and turn it into something that is entirely their own.
Within Brazil’s rich Heavy Metal history, they stand out. Sepultura gave the world raw power. Angra added melody and sophistication. Maestrick bring emotion, creativity and vision. They are not just part of the scene — they are helping to shape where it can go next.
Espresso Della Vita: Lunare is not background music. It is not something you casually throw on. It asks for your attention and your emotions. But if you give it that time, it is more than worth it. It is a bold, heartfelt and unforgettable journey.
With the emotional, creative and fully realised Espresso Della Vita: Lunare, Maestrick have completed something special and redefined what Progressive Metal can be. Out now via Frontiers Music s.r.l, you can find out more here.
