Dutch band Maestro has recently released their new single "Black Bishop", a unique blend of melodic hard rock and classic rock that takes its inspiration from the unlikely subject of chess. Guitarist Orion Roos sheds light on the creative process behind the track, its significance to the band, and how it fits into Maestro's evolving sound. «The song 'Black Bishop' was originally written in the early eighties when I was still a teenager. I wrote it with one of my best friends at the time, Bas de Jager, who was already a professional jazz drummer at fifteen years of age. He was a very, very talented guy, but he was also very much into hard rock bands of that era, such as Kiss, Y&T, Whitesnake and Queen, among others. He was interested in all kinds of other genres too. Similarly, I was also into many rock and hard rock bands from the eighties.»
The pair were also avid chess players, and they decided to create a song that would capture their mutual interests. With its catchy main riff, up-beat tempo and complex guitar parts, the song has certainly stood the test of time: «The lyrics are about chess, which we enjoyed playing from time to time when we wrote it back in the day. It was long overdue, but Maestro finally recorded 'Black Bishop' properly as it was originally intended.»
The song holds special meaning for Maestro, as it was one of their first compositions and has evolved over the years. It was initially released on their limited 4-track demo cassette in 1989, and later covered by Dutch heavy metal cult band Vortex in 2003 under the title "Where's My Gun". Now, with "Black Bishop" finally recorded as originally intended, Maestro continues to perform the song live, never leaving it off their setlist.
Orion sees "Black Bishop" as a perfect representation of the band's current musical direction, which spans from AOR to heavy metal and everything in between. As they work on their upcoming full-length album, the melodic hard rock style of "Black Bishop" will undoubtedly find its place alongside a diverse array of tracks. With its unconventional lyrics and timeless appeal, Maestro hopes that fans will connect with this release on a deeper level, embracing the fusion of chess and hard rock that makes it so unique: «It's probably not very original anymore, but the lyrics about playing chess are a little different from the mainstream lyrics. We've made the song up-beat, melodic and catchy on purpose. At the same time heavy with some exotic scales. The guitar parts are definitely complex at some parts of the song. There must be something to appeal to every rock or metal fan in the song. We've surely tried to make the track 'timeless', so to speak.»
As Maestro continues to evolve and experiment with their sound, the enduring legacy of "Black Bishop" serves as a testament to their ability to craft unforgettable tracks that resonate with fans. We eagerly await their upcoming album and the new musical journeys it will undoubtedly bring.
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