Texan, Old-school death metallers Morgengrau were formed in 2010, so they’re still nippers to the scene. Having only just recorded their debut album it’s gonna take a cd made out of belly button fluff from each member of Cannibal Corpse to impress me… so let’s give it a whirl..
An absolutely outstanding start to the album with title track ‘Extrinsic Pathway’. The riffs are insanely dark and catchy. However, it took a couple of listens to it before I could get used to the old school singing through a dusty old microphone black metal vocals. But once I was there…. Wow!! Amazing!! ‘Antithetical’ is equally as epic with the super-fast drum rolls and the lyrics to this one… brutal!!! “Come to me, Samael, bringer of death, antithetical!” Half way through this track it gives you the perfect opportunity to rock out, along with the haunting deep screams of vocalist Erika and just to note the last bit where she shouts “SAMAEL!!!!” would probably scare even our good old Gaahl to shit!
Listening to the track ‘The White Death’ is making it obvious to me that these guys (and lasses) are gonna go far, and as much as I love Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy) she’s got nothing on this girls pipes!
‘Inner Self’ confuses the hell out of me, in a good way though! The vocals are much deeper, yet still superb! This woman has talent pouring out of her blackened veins!! The middle section on this one gets faster and you can just tell it’s going to be an insane crowd pleaser!
‘Choking Grove’ begins with an 80s style heavy thrash element, yet as soon as the vocals come in, it changes dramatically to something much darker and when the pace slows down for the middle section…. Mind blowing…
Shuffling on to the last track, because it’s a bit of a cracker! Starts with what sounds like some epic snow and wind, with a delicious spot of groovy riffs then there’s them bloody vocals again, melting ice with the demonic fire that she’s breathing… haha!! Just brilliant!!
All in all, I have to say, I haven’t enjoyed an album like this for ages!! And the only reason I’m giving them an 8 instead of a 10 is because the two lasses in the band look about as metal as Britney Spears. C’mon gals get the leather and slap on that makeup!!
(8/10 Charlene Rance)
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