MORGOTH - The Best of Morgoth 1987-1997
1. Selected Killing
2. Lies of Distrust
3. Travel
4. Burnt Identity
5. White Gallery
6. Pits Of Utumno
7. Body Count
8. Isolated
9. Sold Baptism
10. Resistance
11. Under the Surface
12. Drowning Sun
13. This Fantastic Decade
14. Graceland
15. Last Laugh
16. From Dusk To Dawn
17. Being Boiled
18. Eternal Sanctity
19. Pits Of Utumno
20. The Beyond
21. Dance Their Dance
22. Golden Age
23. TV War
24. Indifferent
25. Isolated (video)
26. Cursed & Sold Baptism (video)
27. Under the Surface (video)
28. Last Laugh (video)
29. Body Count (Live)(video)
30. Resistance (Live)(video)
Label: Century Media Records
Release date: 2005, January 24
Artist site: http://www.morgoth.eastpool.com/
GRADE:
8.5/10
Have to say I wasnt expecting this one on the horizon any time soon, as MORGOTHs albums havent been readily available in the US for some time. This German export was widely overlooked by many as simply a DEATH or OBITUARY clone, but that wasnt necessarily the case. To these ears, their 1991 release Cursed remains a death metal classic, the three tracks here representing that era. In fact, there are three songs from each release on disc one. Disc two features the Pits Of Utumno demo, originally released in 1988, and some other unreleased material from Odium and the ill fated Feel Sorry For the Fanatic, appropriately titled if ever there was one.
Its hard to deny the Schuldiner comparisons when addressing vocalist Marc Grewe, but you know what they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Personally, MORGOTH has always had a special place in my heart as death metal underdogs. Its a shame that these guys were overlooked and sometimes labeled a second or third tier death metal band. Its apparent from this compilation that they were so much more than that.
This is an essential release for any fan of death metal, especially those who missed out on MORGOTH the first time around. That being said, beware of the Feel Sorry For the Fanatic tracks. Chances are, unless youre very open minded, you wont like them. Gone are the death metal vocals, replaced with a yelling approach, and the tracks arent all that heavy, at least in comparison to their legacy.
To wrap it up, I will go on record as saying this two cd set is worth the price alone for the 6 videos that are on the second cd. Four promo shots, and two live performances, these are very rare. Kudos to Century Media for re-visiting this bands career and putting together a really impressive package, liner notes and photos and the whole bit!!
PJ
1. Selected Killing
2. Lies of Distrust
3. Travel
4. Burnt Identity
5. White Gallery
6. Pits Of Utumno
7. Body Count
8. Isolated
9. Sold Baptism
10. Resistance
11. Under the Surface
12. Drowning Sun
13. This Fantastic Decade
14. Graceland
15. Last Laugh
16. From Dusk To Dawn
17. Being Boiled
18. Eternal Sanctity
19. Pits Of Utumno
20. The Beyond
21. Dance Their Dance
22. Golden Age
23. TV War
24. Indifferent
25. Isolated (video)
26. Cursed & Sold Baptism (video)
27. Under the Surface (video)
28. Last Laugh (video)
29. Body Count (Live)(video)
30. Resistance (Live)(video)
Label: Century Media Records
Release date: 2005, January 24
Artist site: http://www.morgoth.eastpool.com/
GRADE:
8.5/10
Have to say I wasnt expecting this one on the horizon any time soon, as MORGOTHs albums havent been readily available in the US for some time. This German export was widely overlooked by many as simply a DEATH or OBITUARY clone, but that wasnt necessarily the case. To these ears, their 1991 release Cursed remains a death metal classic, the three tracks here representing that era. In fact, there are three songs from each release on disc one. Disc two features the Pits Of Utumno demo, originally released in 1988, and some other unreleased material from Odium and the ill fated Feel Sorry For the Fanatic, appropriately titled if ever there was one.
Its hard to deny the Schuldiner comparisons when addressing vocalist Marc Grewe, but you know what they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Personally, MORGOTH has always had a special place in my heart as death metal underdogs. Its a shame that these guys were overlooked and sometimes labeled a second or third tier death metal band. Its apparent from this compilation that they were so much more than that.
This is an essential release for any fan of death metal, especially those who missed out on MORGOTH the first time around. That being said, beware of the Feel Sorry For the Fanatic tracks. Chances are, unless youre very open minded, you wont like them. Gone are the death metal vocals, replaced with a yelling approach, and the tracks arent all that heavy, at least in comparison to their legacy.
To wrap it up, I will go on record as saying this two cd set is worth the price alone for the 6 videos that are on the second cd. Four promo shots, and two live performances, these are very rare. Kudos to Century Media for re-visiting this bands career and putting together a really impressive package, liner notes and photos and the whole bit!!
PJ
