UMUR
"Augury of Decline" is the second demo recording by Spanish, Zaragoza based death metal act Maelstrom. The demo was released through Anaconda Records in September 1992. It´s the successor to the December 1990 "Resting in the Pantheon" demo. Maelstrom formed in 1990, released two demos and one split before disbanding.
Stylistically Maelstrom have upped the brutality level on "Augury of Decline" and the death/thrash metal sound of the first demo is seldom found here. This is instead harsh and brutal death metal, although still featuring the occasional thrash metal influence (which wasn´t strange in those days), but definitely death metal rather than thrash metal. The vocals are brutal growling. Almost strangely whispered at times, giving the music an occult, gloomy, and abstract element.
"Augury of Decline" was obviously recorded at a professional recording studio and the demo features a powerful, brutal, yet detailed sound production, which suits the new more brutal and raw sounding material well. Upon conclusion Maelstrom have produced a good quality sophomore demo and it´s a shame nothing more was heard from them as the direction they took on this release could well have landed them a recording contract...a 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.