Meanwhile Progressive House

Balance Music

An artist of continually rising reputation, Maze 28 is another welcome returnee to the Meanwhile imprint. With a debut solo EP to showcase, the reptilian "Iguana / Cobra / Komodo" takes centre stage. Under his Maze 28 moniker, Durrës-born Mario Zefi has become a leading figure in the underground dance fraternity with a plethora of Progressive House hits and occasional forays into Melodic Techno and Electronica arenas. Debuting in 2020 at eighteen, the Albanian star transitioned fully into the Progressive House arena with 2023's "Redux/Flux" on the Beatport number one selling Mango Alley. Since then, Balance Music, UV, Anjunadeep and Alex O'Rion's Solis Records have all featured the Maze 28 sound – including a return to Mango Alley in late 2025 for the"Leave the World Behind" album – as Albania's leading progressive export continues to go from strength to strength. Having thrilled with "Superbloom" on "Meanwhile Excursions, Vol. 4" in September 2024, "Iguana" sees Maze 28 open proceedings with a thumping rhythmic powerhouse that provides dancefloor vibrancy courtesy of a rapid-fire percussive top line. A swung 16th note bassline ups the pace further as layers of effects and subtle melodics evolve with ease. Replete with white-noise risers at the breakdown, the track explodes into the second half with a sliced vocal cut as the rhythmic intensity of earlier phases continues. "Cobra" continues the dark and unwavering bassline intensity of its predecessor as hefty beat and head-shaking hats create club-friendly fervour. Metronomic intensity continues as a pitched vocal phrase adds gravitas. Elegant melodic flourishes create further intrigue as does a siren-effect at the breakdown, reaching a powerful zenith before finding its way back to the beat-laden intensity. The final track reveals an oriental-themed percussion element that develops hypnotically across "Komodo". Flooded with spine-tingling chord progressions, the rhythmic force of partner tracks is replicated here but a glorious breakdown of free-flowing motif and dizzying pads and risers creates a devastating platform for additional elements to extend into the second half in glorious dance-friendly technicolour. Shape-shifting with ease across a landscape of reptilian-themed music, Maze 28 is lizard-king extraordinaire. Directed by GMJ & Matter Mastered by Cid Inc. Design by Matter Text by James Warren

Mango Alley

Mango Alley

Meanwhile Progressive House

Mango Alley

UV

Mango Alley Ambient / Experimental

Meanwhile Progressive House

Anjunadeep Explorations

Anjunadeep Explorations

Anjunadeep Explorations

Mango Alley proudly presents Leave The World Behind, the debut artist album from Maze 28 — a milestone that captures the evolution of his melodic, emotive, and rhythm-driven progressive house sound. Spanning 12 tracks, the album reflects the depth and maturity Maze 28 has honed over the years, with sound ranging from deep and hypnotic to dancefloor and vivid, perfectly balancing atmospheric introspection with confident, driving energy. The album consists of 6 original tracks and 6 collaborations featuring Ricky Ryan, Subandrio, Alex ORion, Weird Sounding Dude, GMJ, and Paul Thomas — names who have inspired Maze 28 and whose work he has deeply respected for years. Each of the established artists brings their own distinct touch to the release, expanding the albums sound palette with deeper grooves, captivating melodies, and refined dancefloor momentum. Leave The World behind is designed for both immersive listening and late-night club worlds. The heart of it is simple and sincere: a nod to the old-school roots — the timeless sound that continues to inspire and stays with us forever. This is where Maze 28 steps in and invites listeners to disconnect from the everyday noise and dive into a soundscape crafted with heart, precision, and purpose.