Morbid Angel Heretic
Earache Mosh272 23rd September 2003
By Paddy Walsh
If ever a death metal band deserved to go down in the annals of metal as an all time great, Morbid Angel is one of them. Although many see their more recent output as being vastly inferior to the days of Altars of Madness etc, some (such as myself) have viewed all of their albums as individual works, each with merits of its own. Guitarist/mastermind Trey Azagthoth has nothing to prove these days; he showed he was one of the best metal guitarists in the world over ten year ago. Since then it has been a case of continuously refining the bands technique and sound; 2000s Gateways to Annihilation was their most polished work yet production-wise, even if it did tend to drag on a bit. Soon after came the departure of second guitarist Erik Rutan (now vocalist/guitarist of Hate Eternal), and then vocalist/bassist Steve Tucker left for personal reasons, only to rejoin just prior to the recording Heretic.
Sporting what is quite possibly the worst cover art ever to grace a Morbid Angel album, Heretic is a strange album. Strange in the sense that at first listen it sounds positively regressive, the polished and crystal clear production of Gateways giving way to an increasingly raw and stripped down sound, which is somewhat reminiscent of their Covenant/Domination era material. Kicking off with Cleansed in Pestilence (Blade of Elohim), the songs themselves are pretty much what you have come to expect from this band; blazing speed, rapid-fire drumming (courtesy of the ever brilliant Pete Sandoval), growled vocals and mind melting solos from Trey. Its all correct and in place, and I would even say that some of the material on Heretic is their best and most consistent in years, such as the almost catchy yet fantastic Enshrined in Grace, the grinding Beneath the Hollow, or an almost Altars of Madness sounding The Stricken Arise.
Unfortunately, there are problems. Not with the actual songs as such, but with the glut of filler material that the band saw fit to include. There are 14 listed tracks on Heretic, yet only 8 of these are actual songs! Included are 4 short instrumental-interlude type things, a drum solo and (for no apparent reason at all) Trey playing the solo for Secured Limitations from Gateways to Annihilation unaccompanied. First of all, these interludes - there are 4 of them, which is way too many. Even two would have been pushing it, but, for arguments sake, I suppose Memories of the Past and Victorious March of Reign the Conqueror are the stronger ones, and could have been left in. The drum solo, while technically amazing, simply doesnt belong on the album, and spoken parts, from what appears to be the producer, seem to be attempted humour. This, on a technical brutal death metal album, is a bad idea. As for the guitar solo, well, its completely pointless, and isnt even one of Morbid Angels better ones. Surely they should have put these oddities on the bonus disc and left the album itself intact? And were a few more actual songs so much to ask?
If this all sounds very negative, then dont get me wrong. Heretic is a quite a good piece of work, excellent at times, but simply doesnt sound complete as an album. The fact that there are only 2 actual songs on the second half of the album speaks volumes, and as much as I wanted to love this release, I cant help but feel somewhat disappointed by the bands lack of foresight. Still an essential purchase for all Morbid Angel fans.
7.5/10
Official Morbid Angel Site
Official Earache Site
Earache Mosh272 23rd September 2003
By Paddy Walsh
If ever a death metal band deserved to go down in the annals of metal as an all time great, Morbid Angel is one of them. Although many see their more recent output as being vastly inferior to the days of Altars of Madness etc, some (such as myself) have viewed all of their albums as individual works, each with merits of its own. Guitarist/mastermind Trey Azagthoth has nothing to prove these days; he showed he was one of the best metal guitarists in the world over ten year ago. Since then it has been a case of continuously refining the bands technique and sound; 2000s Gateways to Annihilation was their most polished work yet production-wise, even if it did tend to drag on a bit. Soon after came the departure of second guitarist Erik Rutan (now vocalist/guitarist of Hate Eternal), and then vocalist/bassist Steve Tucker left for personal reasons, only to rejoin just prior to the recording Heretic.
Sporting what is quite possibly the worst cover art ever to grace a Morbid Angel album, Heretic is a strange album. Strange in the sense that at first listen it sounds positively regressive, the polished and crystal clear production of Gateways giving way to an increasingly raw and stripped down sound, which is somewhat reminiscent of their Covenant/Domination era material. Kicking off with Cleansed in Pestilence (Blade of Elohim), the songs themselves are pretty much what you have come to expect from this band; blazing speed, rapid-fire drumming (courtesy of the ever brilliant Pete Sandoval), growled vocals and mind melting solos from Trey. Its all correct and in place, and I would even say that some of the material on Heretic is their best and most consistent in years, such as the almost catchy yet fantastic Enshrined in Grace, the grinding Beneath the Hollow, or an almost Altars of Madness sounding The Stricken Arise.
Unfortunately, there are problems. Not with the actual songs as such, but with the glut of filler material that the band saw fit to include. There are 14 listed tracks on Heretic, yet only 8 of these are actual songs! Included are 4 short instrumental-interlude type things, a drum solo and (for no apparent reason at all) Trey playing the solo for Secured Limitations from Gateways to Annihilation unaccompanied. First of all, these interludes - there are 4 of them, which is way too many. Even two would have been pushing it, but, for arguments sake, I suppose Memories of the Past and Victorious March of Reign the Conqueror are the stronger ones, and could have been left in. The drum solo, while technically amazing, simply doesnt belong on the album, and spoken parts, from what appears to be the producer, seem to be attempted humour. This, on a technical brutal death metal album, is a bad idea. As for the guitar solo, well, its completely pointless, and isnt even one of Morbid Angels better ones. Surely they should have put these oddities on the bonus disc and left the album itself intact? And were a few more actual songs so much to ask?
If this all sounds very negative, then dont get me wrong. Heretic is a quite a good piece of work, excellent at times, but simply doesnt sound complete as an album. The fact that there are only 2 actual songs on the second half of the album speaks volumes, and as much as I wanted to love this release, I cant help but feel somewhat disappointed by the bands lack of foresight. Still an essential purchase for all Morbid Angel fans.
7.5/10
Official Morbid Angel Site
Official Earache Site
