As Sweden helped to improve the Second Wave of Black Metal in the early years of the 90's, they created an alternative model to the one used on U.S.A. Death Metal acts due the fact that Swedish Death Metal evolved from Hardcore and D-Beat influences. That means that the trademarked sound known from early works from CARNAGE, DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED and UNLEASHED had a strong bond to Hardcore/Punk Rock. But MEGASCAVENGER seems to have another set of musical ideas, as shown on "Songs in the Key of Madness".

The band's musical work is based on Old School Death Metal, but instead of the trademarked influences from Swedish scene, a lot of influences from British and North American Schools can be heard clearly. It's brutal and aggressive, but with fine instrumental arrangements, in a way that the maniacs for extreme genres will love. It's not something outstanding, but it's good. Håkan Stuvemark is the one who made the mixing and mastering of the album, creating something strong, nasty and aggressive, but having in mind that the listeners must understand what is being played by the band. But something isn't fitting as it could, because the sonority seems mechanic sometimes.

"They Went Mad" has that USA Death Metal ambience (due the nasty guitars and grunts), the brutal and catchy "The Beckoning of the Rats" and "First We Slay (Then We Gorge)" (both with a good solid work from bass guitar and drums, along with hooking Hardcore tempos), "Five Severed Fingers" (this one is a typical Swedish Death Metal song), and "Human Sinkhole" are the best ones. Obviously some points can improve in the future (especially the vocals, because such low tunes aren't 100% compatible with the band's music).

For now, "Songs in the Key of Madness" is a good release, but MEGASCAVENGER can make something better, because its potential for such thing is clear.