Welcome to Rock Music Critic! Check out reviews in the Flash menu above or the static links below. This latest version of the site now includes reviews with an embedded music player so you can listen to whole albums once for free courtesy of Lala.com. Lala doesn't always have an album, but when they do I will include the player. What's easier than listening to an album to decide whether you like it? Feel free to ignore my petty ramblings and just listen to the tunes. That's really the whole point anyway. Up the Irons!! ~ George
Maze of Torment
Hammers of Mayhem
I've seen Maze of Torment in the music store before, but this is the first time I've had the opportunity to hear them. I must admit it is much better than I expected. Their logo reminds me of hordes of other suck-ass death metal bands (and lets face it, what metal-head does not take logo and album art into consideration when shopping) but actually they are pretty damn good.
Not for the feint of heart, Maze of Torment plays straight-forward death thrash. The production is really quite excellent for the genre. There is good separation between the instruments and the guitars comes through loud and clear.
At times the singer comes across like Paul Baloff (original singer for Exodus) which is a most excellent way to sound (R.I.P. Paul). But then he gets even heavier.
The technical skill, excellent production, and skull-smashing brutality of this album make it a must-have for fans of this style. That sounds like a sales pitch, but whatever, I don't make a penny off this site. I just think this album crushes and want you to understand that. This album makes my pulse race.
And to top it all off, they do an excellent cover of Venom's "In League with Satan." Eeeeeeeevil! (Come to think of it, the vocalist sounds a bit like Cronos too.)
I pity the poor souls in a Maze of Torment pit! Blood will be spilled!
