There is something about South American metal bands which really captivates. Whether it is because their fans are so passionate about the metal scene there (seriously, watch any live dvd from S.A and just watch the crowd!) or because it is so energetic, primal and ferocious (S.A Black Metal, Sepultura, Nervosa, Anal Vomit and Nuclear are fine examples) and Peruvian thrashers Maze Of Terror are no different. Armed with a hellish thrash assault, they are primed and ready to kill. Enter the body farm here folks.
Opening up the album with a countdown to an explosion before the chilling and iconic quote from Dr R. J. Oppenheimer, one of the lead scientists on the Manhattan Project (“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”), “Rotting Force” is every bit as explosive as its introductory sample. With a shockwave of full of rapid-fire buzzing thrash guitars and enough double kick to level a small town, it just smashes into you and keeps on going. Scathing and venomous vocal delivery, a frantic pace and very urgent feel to the musical delivery make this a tremendous opening effort, and even when it ‘breaks’, the reprieve is only momentary as it just kicks right back in, full speed ahead.
Keeping with this theme, the majority of the album follows this frantic and venomous delivery. Pulling no punches and giving no fucks, Maze Of Terror truly are ready to kill with this release. “Lycanthropes” has an interesting melodic hook to its main riff and whilst the guitars may not be as fast, the drums are phenomenally quick and the real rich and booming bassline is a thing of beauty. Bordering slightly on the melodic death metal sound, sharing some similarities with a more thrash orientated At The Gates styled sound, it really powers ahead, especially in the chorus with the raw and harsh screamed vocals over the relentless buzzing guitars which seem to get faster as it progresses. “There Will Be Blood” keeps the rapid pace up, sparing no prisoners as it goes from blistering riffs into a real quick but pounding thrash groove whilst the vocals sound like John Tardy but delivered at least five times quicker!
The track “World’s Dead Side” has a real hammering bassline in its intro under the buzzing guitars and almost shouted vocals before a real classic thrash scream brings it into the main riff onslaught. Fast as hell with a real classic vibe to it, the track just charges head on, cutting through everything in its path whilst “Bringer Of Torture” changes everything completely. With a haunting, hypnotising and evil as fuck sounding intricate bass solo to bring it in, you get the feeling something is coming and after the agonising minute or so waiting for it, it comes – a massive sounding steady paced heavy thrash classic which demands copious amounts of headbanging and foot stomping. Chugging along, it keeps everything locked steady until the 4:30 mark where it explodes to life with some blastbeats and blitzkrieg styled riffs which really speed it up to whiplash inducing windmill pace, marking it as one of the best tracks on the album.
Closing the record is the near 11 minute epic, “Giles De Rais” which begins with a steady paced riff assault before it begins to pick up pace with that classic thrash gallop feel which persists for the majority of the track, slowing back to the steady section occasionally just to break it up, acting as a testament to the band’s rhythmic prowess. Musically, it reflects the entire album, wild, intense and aggressive and it provides a fitting, all be it rather long end to a solid album.
Overall, “Ready To Kill” is your classic throwback feel Thrash album. With its rapid pace, scathing delivery, frantic delivery and wild leadwork, it’s something which is both at home in the current day, and wouldn’t seem out of place back in the early 80’s. In all, you really should give this a listen. South America has some cracking bands just waiting to be heard and hopefully, Maze Of Terror can go on to receive the same recognition as some of the other fine metal exports from one of the most passionate about metal places in the world.
(8/10 Fraggle)
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