As promised, the EP Tales by Chris Maragoth arrived at November 26th. Earlier this year, Chris released his first single ‘Burning June’, a darker song with touches of light. All the songs on this 3 song EP, start with ‘Tales of…’ So lets hear what stories are waiting for us.

Thunder starts, a piano follows. A mysterious electric guitar joins. There’s a pause, and the voice of Nadine Hope starts telling the first story: Tales of a Girl. Chris tells you the story behind the song:

“Tales of a Girl” is about being in love with a specific person that does not feel the same way and, as a result, the struggle to finally letting go or to keep on trying.

The song builds up tension, and then just blasts all out near the end. It’s such a powerful experience. The combination of whispers and an all out voice in the song enhances this experience. 

‘All I want is some love from you, but all I got is a stone cold heart’. With that, the first song comes to an end. 

Tales of My Demise starts with whispers. They go into your head. If you listen with headphones, you don’t know where to look. They’re everywhere. Then a classic guitar comes in, followed by long deep strums on a electric guitar. This adds some darkness to the tone of it all. Unexpected, it all fades out and we get to hear a part that sounds very classical. What a buildup. In the mix of it all, the electric guitar eventually takes over again. Later in the song we get a fluent mix between the two genres. The whispers return and then the song comes to an end. 

It leaves you with a very uncomfortable feeling. Which is what demise should do, so I mean that in a good way. This piece is so powerful. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like it before. The instruments are so pure. You get hooked on it from the first second, there’s no time to be distracted. You are listening to this now and the song has you captured.

Already the last song on this EP, called Tales of Loss and Tragedy. We hear a ticking clock, a clock that tells you it’s 4 AM. Creaking, a child’s laughter, a horror movie like scenario. Thunder in the background and a children’s toy like sound. Then a terrifying thump stops it all. The piano takes over and calms the feelings a little bit. The violins are being played slow and tender, which gives this song a sad touch. The laughing returns, joined with the sound of rain. The wind up toy stops playing, and the song ends.

Again, this is a very powerful piece that goes straight through your bones. It’s hard to describe into words how pure these instruments are and what this piece makes you feel. It’s like a full movie told in three minutes and those minutes are over before you even knew they began.

Tales talks about sadness, heartbreak, a gloomy feeling; dark matters to sum it up. Two out of three songs are instrumental, one of the most powerful instrumental tracks I’ve ever heard. The songs hit hard, they enter your body and let you feel the emotions that Chris Maragoth felt when writing this. 

There are modern rock and melodic metal parts in this EP, there are classical parts, there are parts where it’s all combined into one. But most of all, I love storytelling and these Tales are amazing. I recommend listening to this EP with headphones or very good surround speakers to capture all the sounds that are in there.

Listen to Tales on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

Release date: November 26, 2021
Label: Self-released
Tracklist:

1. Tales of a Girl
2. Tales of My Demise
3. Tales of Loss and Tragedy