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Morbid Angel - Heretic


*
=Staff's pick

Cleansed In Pestilence (Blade Of Elohim)*
Enshrined By Grace*
Beneath The Hollow
Curse The Flesh*
Praise The Strenght
Stricken Arise*
Place Of Many Deaths
Abyssous*
God Of Our Own Divinity
Within Thy Enemy
Memories Of The Past
Victorious March Of Reign The Conqueror
Drum Check
Born Again


Genre Death Metal
Steve Tucker
Vocals
Tracks 14
Trey Azaghtoth
Guitar
Runningtime 52 Min.
-
Guitar
Label Earache
Steve Tucker
Bass
Release 22 Sept. 2003
Pete Sandoval
Drums
Country USA
-
Keyboards
Similar artists Hate Eternal

So its time again, for the kings of this genre. Since the "Altars of madness" album Morbid Angel has succesful been leaders when it comes to technical and brutal death metal, but since the departure of Dave Vincent (voc/bass). After "Domination", the band seems to be struggling to find the right formula again. "Heretic" are their latest attempt.

It starts promising with "Cleansed In Pestilence", wich makes me think of the excellent "Covenant" album. Speed, characteristic riffing and weird drumparts. Morbid Angel structure. The following "Enshrined By Grace" have all the ingredients that makes Morbid Angel an outstanding band musically. God attack in the arrangements and over all an melancholy feeling. But after these tracks its getting more and more hollow, it feels like the ambitious songwriting sometimes goes over hand and becomes organized chaos, but without melodies and punchlines. Another thing that bothers me are the sound, its Morbid Angel sound but not in that positive way that you heard on so many album before. More "hollow" than "Covenant" and noway near the fat sound of "Blessed Are The Sick" or "Domination".

Well the songs I mentioned are the best I´ve heard in many years with this band along with "Stricken Arise" and "Abyssous". This album isn´t a failure, but neither a succes in my ears. I´ll hope that this band hasn't burned their best explosives on albums like "Altars Of Madness" and "Covenant" and that there is more to come!

See also review of: Kingdoms Disdained , Illud Divinum Insanus

Production
Vocals
Compositions

6

7

7

 
Summary



7 chalices of 10 - Tim

Related links:

www.morbidangel.com