Spiritual uplifting this is not… from the bowels of Hell, Maze of Torment, bringers of death, destruction and all things ungodly, strike hard into this cozy little life as we know it… spewing devastation and mutilation at all who stand in their path.

Far beyond the next wave of satanic thrash that first rose to domination with the likes of early Slayer and Frost, this Scandinavian onslaught fires off one round after another of sodomy, slaughter and spiritual decay all into one fiery explosion worthy of Mars himself!

"Hell Awaits" the tortured souls who dare to step closer into the dark chasm… this malevolent maze for which there is no escape.

"This is Death" sums up this latest burst of blasphemy to emanate from the Swedish underground-brought forth at breakneck speed, and a tale that's told of pure evil and blood-soaked intent -

"I wear your guts around my neck…

I seek your blood between your legs…

Twisted in Blood and screaming in pain…

Turning against this morbid game…"

and I'll bet they'll try to convince everyone there's some logical assertion being delivered over and above the graphically intended horror!

Not much deviation from first to last, but very well produced without the slightest trace of mechanical deficiency buried beneath the overall doom.

"Death Strikes" is extreme music at its lowest point… so expect no sudden urges of haunting harmonies, or textual witchcraft costumed and cloaked under the guise of the "Black…"

Maze of Torment… there is no way out and no more brutal means for exiting this world!

Released by Necropolis Records

Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu]