From Lima, Peru come extreme thrashers Maze of Terror. “Skullcrusher”
is their first release, and is the musical equivalent of being punched in the
face for 25 minutes. There are some thrash bands that are great because they
write memorable songs, but this isn’t the reason for Maze of Terror’s high
quality. Instead, it is the sheer tenacity with which they constantly bombard
you. The second track, “Hatred and Repression” is by far the best example. This
song reaches some pretty insane tempos, and the delivery of the vocals does
justice to the “hatred” part of the title. Vocalist Leviathan has some truly
disturbed grunts. He utilizes the relatively popular blackened snarl that many
of their South American counterparts love. Instrumentation-wise, this song is
probably exactly what you expect: pounding drums (almost to the point of
overkill), and vicious guitar riffs. There are also a surprising number of
guitar solos, not just on this track, but on the entire EP.
The other four tracks continue in a similar fashion, but
none ever reach the heights of “Hatred and Repression”. Nevertheless, “Skullcrusher”
remains an exercise in brutality. The drum tone ensures that the pummeling of Hammer’s
snare is never forgotten. My typical complaint of this style of metal is that
it’s often too repetitive and gets boring quickly, but Maze of Terror manages
to avoid that for a few reasons. Firstly, this release is only 25 minutes;
there simply isn’t enough time or material to get boring. The second main
reason this release is great is because of the aforementioned guitar solos.
They inject just enough variation into the remaining sonic destruction that you
won’t find your interest waning. Finally, “Skullcrusher” is brilliant just
because of the absurdity of it. Sometimes bands play so fast and with so much
hatred and aggression that it’s almost comical. While I have no doubt that the
band takes their music and lyrics seriously (as they should), this style of
metal is perfect to throw on without having to think too hard. In a metal world
where ever-increasing complexity seems to appeal to most, Maze of Terror shows
that simplicity is best. “Skullcrusher” is a major winner, and is highly
recommended for all fans of more brutal thrash metal.
Highlights
"Damned To Eternal Pyre"
"Hatred and Repression"
Final Rating
4.4/5 or 88%.
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