Maze Of Torment has come a long way since their days as Harmony. The result of this development is their impressive new "Faster Disaster" album. This is aggressive Death Metal at it's best. We contacted Maze Of Torment for an update.



1. When and where was Harmony started ? Why did you choose that name ?

- Harmony started out in late '92. I was not a member of the band then and they were actually called Disturbed. I joined the band some months later in '93 and then we also changed the name to Harmony. The idea to use the name Harmony was rather stupid. We used the name because we wanted a name that would be the opposite to our music. The name would be a sort of inspiration for us to create faster and more aggressive music. But this didn't really happen in Harmony when it comes to music as some of the old members had some different ideas when it comes to music. A stupid idea that confused a lot of people. The band was formed here in Strangnas by Kjell and some other guys that are not members today. So, Kjell is the only real original member left from the early start. Myself does not see Maze Of Torment and Harmony as the same band, but it is formed through the ashes of it.

2. You released a Cassette LP (as Deviation Records described it) on Deviation Records some years ago (later re- released on split CD through Arctic Serenades). How did you get in touch with Deviation Records ? What is your view on this release now ?

- This is a totally rip- off release from Deviation Records. I got in contact with Mark that runs Deviation Records after sending him a promo. He liked it and wanted to release a Cassette - LP (just like he described it for us too) with us. We off course thought that the cassette also would be released on vinyl, but as we all know this never happen as he only called the tape a Cassette - LP. A stupid title that did our mistake to sign with him and a title that have confused some people that maybe thought that the release also was out on vinyl. Anyway, he did a professional work with the printing of the cassette and we got our copies that we were supposed to get. But later he wanted to this split CD thing together with the label Arctic Serenades. He got our approvement to do this as it looked like a good deal for us. But the thing is that we never heard from him again. I've got a letter from Arctic Serenades like 8 months ago and they asked me if we had got our free copies from Mark. I was very confused here as I didn't really know that this split CD was out. I actually saw the CD for the first time yesterday when Tomas from Iron Fist got some copies that he had traded with Arctic Serenades (actually; it was from N.F.T.I.G. -ed). So I finally have a copy of this release after like two years of waiting. Arctic Serenades asked us if we wanted to buy some copies from them when they knew that we didn't had got our copies from Mark, but hell no ! We did not get our copies that we were supposed to get and then buy our own copies of something that you have created, fuck no ! (we agree. Together with Arctic Serenades solicitor; we have now sent Peter 25 free copies of the CD. -ed). I don't have anything against Arctic Serenades (R.I.P. -ed)as they seem to be a good and serious label, but how hard would it be for them to just send us copy to one and each of us, three bloody copies. This would not have been a big loss for them money wise. Fuck it anyway. I hate everything about this release. Just give me bad memories.

3. You then changed your name to Torment. After an argument with a German band with the same name; you changed the name to Maze Of Torment. What happen it this period from Harmony to Maze Of Torment ?

- The Deviation cassette "The Radiance From A Star" were supposed to be released under our new moniker Torment. But the cover printings were already done, so it was to late. This is just something I am glad about today as we see the start of Maze Of Torment after this release. Anyway, we wanted to change our name because most of the old Harmony members were out and because of that we also started to develop a new sound. So the best for us was to change the name and prove that this was something new and different from Harmony.
What happened between Harmony and Maze Of Torment was that we recorded a new promo and got the deal with Corrosion Records. We had not an argument with the German band Torment. They had the name first so it was simply best for us to change the name. We kept the original Torment logo and just added Maze Of over it in small letters. Of course the name are taken from the great Morbid Angel track with the same name.

4. You released an album on Corrosion Records called "The Force". I have never heard this release so please tell us more about it. How much did it sell ?

We must be followed with bad luck (a maze of torment ? -ed) 'course this is also a rip- off release. We recorded the CD in May '96 in Unisound. They could not pay the studio, so Dan Swano didn't send away the DAT- tape. It took corrosion 7 months before they fixed the money for the studio. They did a deal with Nuclear Blast, so it was actually they who paid the studio costs. After some other fucking delays the CD was finally out. One fucking year of bloody delays. When it was released they didn't do too good promotion so I guess the selling isn't too much to brag about. We got bloody great response from the underground. So it was a release that had good potential to sell much more if it just was promoted proper. It's a really great album and it's too bad that it will drown away. We will try to get hold of the rights and release it once more, but on Iron Fist. We have not any copies left, but if someone are interested in this release, they should contact Nuclear Blast. They should have it in their mail- order stuff. The CD also has two different covers. One in colour and one in black/white. The one in colour is almost impossible to find.

5. What happened after the release of this CD and 'til you was signed by Iron Fist Productions ?

Not much happened. We did some shows ad worked hard with the new material for the next release. Tomas signed us for Iron Fist and we started to do lots of promotion. Tomas was actually a member of Maze Of Torment a short time before the start of Iron Fist. But it never worked out as he never has played an instrument before, he, he. But then we found Peter Janson for the bass. He is now our second guitarist as Pehr has left the band. It didn't really worked out with Pehr as he never was at the rehearsals so he had to leave the band. Too bad that he was a good singer. Anyway, we have a new singer now called Erik Sahlstrom. He used to sing in the Doom Metal band The Marble Icon. He is a really great and totally dedicated to the underground. More than you could say about Pehr. We hope this will work out and that people will like our new finding. We have not found any new bass player yet, but it's not impossible that Erik also will handle that part.

6. Please give us a full insight to your new album "Faster Disaster". The recording, the tracks, the concept, the line up on the album and the art- work.

This is an album that we feel bloody pleased and proud about. We entered the Sunlight studio in February '98 for two weeks and we had lots of expectations for this album, that was it. The recording session was like hell sometimes. Like it should be. But most of the time went smoothly. I myself had worked like a maniac with the guitar stuff and I did everything I could to not get "sloppy" with the riffs and later not feel satisfied with my work. But today I'm satisfied like hell about how it all turned out. Tomas and Jocke that runs Sunlight were great to work with, really cool and dedicated people. Jocke used to play drums in Dawn so he knew what it was all about. I think that every track on "Faster Disaster" have it's own personality. All the tracks turned out way more better that we thought from the start. We didn't really have a concept for the album, just to do a strong and aggressive release. The line- up was the same as on "The Force" except for Peter Jansson. I did all the guitar on the album so Pehr only had to concentrate his work on the vocals. The cover art- work turned out pretty good I think. We wanted our logo in the middle and then have something coming towards you. The thing I think we failed with was how the lyrics was printed. It's bloody hard to follow them it you never have heard the songs before, but I guess you get it after a few times.

7. How would you compare your new album to your earlier releases ?

If you would compare it to our first release "The Force"; it is like night and day. This doesn't mean that the first one is shit. The both are as good as I think, but when it comes to the music is the new one much more intense and have more thrashy stuff in it. "The Force" had more melodies mixed with the thrashy parts. We wanted that "Faster Disaster" would be more straight ahead so to speak. The development will you hear of on our next release. It seems like that now anyway.

8. You choose to release your new album on the brand new Iron Fist Production. Please tell us more about this record label. Why did you choose this record label ?

We have known Tomas for ages now and we know all about his earlier work in the underground. No Fashion Records and Putrefication 'zine. He showed a big dedication in Maze Of Torment and he showed a bloody serious attitude about his start with Iron Fist. He convinced us that Iron Fist would be the right label for us, and so far he is bloody right as we are very pleased with his work. We of course knew about all the rumours and talk about him and No Fashion Records. This was nothing that bothered us as we all know about the truth. So, people out there should not care about the rumours and start to support a true underground legend as he is.
Iron Fist has so far released the two cult demos with Merciless on '7. Then "Faster Disaster" was released. Later this year will the bloody great debut of the Swedish band Hypnosia be out. Check this out if you are a true Sadus maniac like I am.

9. Which bands or piece of art/literature has inspired your new album and Maze Of Torment most ?

If I only had the chance to pick two bands that have inspired us the most for this release so must I say Slayer and Metallica. It also can be heard on the album, I think. There are of course tons of more bands that have had an influence on our music. But in general we tried to keep the feeling that these two bands have on their earlier recordings, a feeling that are impossible for me to explain, but that most of you that started out with those bands should know. Bands like Death, Morbid Angel, Sadus, Autopsy and Necrophagia have also had a big input to our music. We are all Thrashand Death Metal maniacs so there are plenty of bands to get inspired from. All the art and lyrics on the album is mostly from our own minds. I guess that my part of the lyrics on the next release will be more inspired from literature as I read lots of books at the moment. It will also be interesting to see the topics of Erik's lyrics.

10. What is your political, religious and philosophical views ?

Environmental, atheist and open-minded to things that could satisfy my own needs.

11. What is the positive and the negative sides with running a band from Sweden ?

The positive side is just maybe that you are from Sweden and get more attention than a band from Poland for example. Of course I think this is wrong as I myself rather listen to a demo band from Poland than from Sweden. Bands are mostly more original if they are from countries like Poland and Chile. Places that don't get everything for free, that have to work harder to show that they exist. The negative part is maybe that underground people gets tired of all the Swedish bands that rip- off each other music-wise and don't notice all the other bands that have something special to offer.

12. What are your plans for the coming months and year ? Any tour plans ?

Our plans now is to start working on new material for the next release. It will take a year before the third album will be out, but if we want to do something better than "Faster Disaster", we better start now. We also must rehearsal the old stuff with Erik so we are prepared if any tours comes up. Tours are not planned yet, but I'm sure it will come up. To promote "Faster Disaster" like hell and show the people that this is something to hold on to.

13. Do you have a merchandise list ? From what address can the band be contacted ?

The only thing we have now to sell is the album, but t-shirts will soon be printed. More information about this you find at this address:

Iron Fist Production
C/O Tomas Nyquist
Finningavagen 72d
645 42 Strangnas
SWEDEN

or at their web-site
Iron Fist Production

You can also order the CD from this address for $ 18.
For more information about the band or anything else; you can just write to me at:

Peter Karlson
Finningavagen 72d
645 42 Strangnas
SWEDEN

Bloody thanx for the interview and support. HELL, HELL !!!!

We are more than happy to support a band like Maze Of Torment. Their new album are awesome.