Morbid Angel Altars of Madness (released in 1989) has for a long time been considered the greatest of death metal albums by many respected magazines around the world. I’d have to agree with them too, for me this album sums up everything that death metal should be. Evil, nasty and characterised by stunning levels of musicianship and talent.
This was Morbid Angel’s second attempt at recording an album. Their first album “Abominations of Desolation” was never released (The official word was the quality just wasn’t there, but there was also a different line-up with whom there’d been some level of conflict which sources close to the band say also played a part). Either way many of the songs from that first album went on to be featured on this and their next album “Blessed are the sick” and “Abominations..” was later released properly as well.
This epic slab however was released by Earache Records and was already advertised as “The Greatest Death Metal release ever” by the label. They weren’t wrong either. The band took off like wildfire on the back of this record and forever cemented themselves in the history of death metal.
The album opens up with the stunning “Immortal Rites” and from the onset we are pummelled with high speed riffage of Trey Azagthoth and Richard Brunelle, the pummelling but precise drumming of Pete Sandoval and the beastly vocals of David Vincent. This for me is the classic lineup of Morbid Angel.
The glorious mayhem continues with “Suffocation” and “Visions from the Darkside” with the occult lyrics many of which were taken from the Necronomicon adding a definite aura of evil and mystery to proceedings. This is a point that I feel I need to make. The lyrics (Espeically in Heavy Metal) can really add a lot to a song and Morbid Angel were masters of their craft when it came to this. Well written lyrics (though very heavily lifted from the Necronomicon) really make this and all round classy release.
My two favourite tracks follow up next “Maze of Torment” and “Chapel of Ghouls” and it just doesn’t let up. I will forever be a fanboy of this album. I could go on naming tracks after this but at this point it doesn’t matter. Everything on this album is untouchable and perfect. If you like Death Metal this is it!
The album went on to solidify them as one of the top selling Death Metal bands of all time as well as introduce death metal to the more mainstream metal audiences as well. It is still to this day one of the label, Earache records top selling releases ever (If not THE top).
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