Review Summary: This is Morbid Angel in its purest incarnation.
IA! IA! IAK SAKKAKTH!
TOWARDS THE FOREST I SUMMON THEE
COME FORTH AND MAKE THE GATES APPEAR
IAK SAKKAKTH IS THE GATE IN WHICH THE SPHERES MEET
OPEN WIDE THE GATE
THE ANCIENT ONES RULE THE VAULT AND SHALL RULE AGAIN
COME FORTH THROUGH THE GATE AND TAKE THE EARTH AS YOUR OWN!
Back in the early-mid 80s, Morbid Angel was a seriously occult band, deeply into the type of dark subject matter found within the Necronomicon and the like. However, unlike a lot of other bands around at the time, it wasn't just a front for the music. The band actually performed occult rituals and the music was truly a reflection of what its members were passionate about. This album was recorded in 1986 and was meant to be their debut album, but allegedly Mike Browning (original drummer/vocalist) and Trey got into a fight resulting in Mike leaving the band and Trey refusing to release the album. David "Disco D" Vincent, who produced the album, took over on bass/vocal duties and Pete Sandoval was brought in on drums and the rest is history.
This was ultimately officially released in 1991 to combat the bootlegs that were going around, but unfortunately it still remains vastly overlooked by many a metalhead. It's a shame because this is hands down the most evil album recorded in '86 and would have certainly had a devastating, massive impact on the entire metal pantheon if it had actually been released that year. Instead, it sits in the hall of forgotten metal classics when really it belongs in the eternal hall of fame of underground 80s first wave black metal classics. This album is pure chaos and evil put to tape.
Mike Browning is a much, much better and more fitting vocalist than Disco D, and while the latter's performance on Altars of Madness is still phenomenal (going progressively downhill with each subsequent album), after listening to this album you can tell that he was just doing his best to imitate Browning, who truly sounds like a demon writhing in the depths of hell, for lack of better words.
This album has an evil atmosphere like no other. The production is raw, primal and grating and this combined with Browning's simpler and slower drum style helps create a truly sinister sound. Browning might not have the technical finesse of his replacement but he certainly has passion and his style fits the songs perfectly. Little touches like the AWESOME intros to Chapel of Ghouls and Lord of All Fevers and Plague really add a lot to the dark atmosphere. There is something indescribable about the way this album sounds, it truly is the band's most passionate recording. Some of the best solos in the entire Morbid Angel catalogue are found on this majestic collection of occult hymns and Trey and Richard sound like they are channeling other-dimensional demons out of their respective guitars. Either these guys were on some POTENT hallucinogens or they actually WERE possessed during the recording of this album. Probably both.
Bottom line, this album is absolutely essential for any fan of thrashing deathblack metal. While 8 of the 9 songs on this album were re-recorded by Disco D and company on later releases, the "primitive" versions found here all reign supreme to their respective counterparts (though the three tracks re-recorded for altars still stand on their own as some of the best songs they ever recorded).
Anyhoo, *** this review. I just needed there to be a thread so I can bump the *** out of this dark satanic thrashterpiece.
Here's a clip of Browning talking about weed with Chuck [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJQh8y95gao[/url]
