MAELSTROM
"It Was Predestined"
(-)

Apparently Maelstrom had it going for them in the 80s. Sorry I missed that totally. Anyway they've decided to give it a go again in the 2000s with their mix of technical proficiency and older school death metal making for a meeting that on paper might make you think of Cynic or latter day Death. But it wasn't those bands that I came to think of once I started listening to this 3 track Ep. Having not heard of or heard anything from the earlier incarnation I had no expectations on Maelstrom. But I was positively surprised as the first note started sounding from my speakers. This wasn't the washed up Death/Cynic template that I kind of had expected. Instead I was surprised that it reminded me so much of Australia's Hobb's Angel Of Death, especially the second track. I don't know how many times I listened to the Angel Of Death album back in the 80s. I even bought it on Cd later on so that I can play it in my car too. Having lived with "It Was Predestined" for a while I've come to find one fault and only one; the record is way too short. I would have liked to hear a whole album.
www.metalmaelstrom.net

-Anders Ekdahl