Far From A Morbid Monday

It’s not often that a metal fan can claim to have seen one of the founders of American death metal. These seminal bands that were up and coming during the late eighties and early nineties are now usually disbanded, horribly washed up, or a combination of the two, and as a result, it is often difficult to capture what they might have been like in their prime. This was not an issue, however, on June 1^st, when Morbid Angel visited Melbourne for the first time since 1996.

The arrival of said band was not taken lightly on behalf of the metal community and thus, an hour after Billboards door’s had opened, there were denim vests, leather jackets, unkempt haircuts, alcohol and inane grins aplenty. Support bands Ocularis Infernum and Aphotic Dawn had the herculean task of warming up the (largely uninterested) crowd. Though there was certainly no appreciative mosh pit, the two bands show cased an admirable local pool of talent.

Tensions mounted as the support bands equipment was moved and the bizarre choice of electronic and dance music played over the PA. After what seemed many hours, and countless chants of “MORBID!”, the lights finally dimmed, and Morbid Angel took to the stage.

Starting off with their classic track ‘Rapture’ from their third album, ‘Covenant’, Morbid Angel roared into life. As an enormous mosh pit erupted amongst jubilant yells, and a mass banging of heads, it was clear that the band still had it. Frontman David Vincent’s voice, always one of the best to be heard in death metal, was as fierce as ever, and he occasionally impressed the crowd with a deep operatic tenor voice. Guitar legend Trey Azagthoth seemed not to look up from his guitar for the duration of the gig, so caught up did he seem in the unholy (yet beautiful) sounds he pulled from his instrument. Pete Sandoval, the loyal drummer, kept the explosive blast beats and drum fills tight and grandiose, without being overwhelming. The unknown new guitarist Thor Myhren seemed to keep admirable pace with the rest of the bands explosive onslaught.

Most of the songs played came from the bands classic first four albums, with highlights including ‘Maze of Torment’, ‘Chapel of Ghouls’, ‘Fall From Grace’, ‘God of Emptiness’ and ‘Eyes to See, Ears to Hear’. A new song called ‘Nevermore’ from their unreleased new album was also played more than competently. Judging by the raucous and energetic crowd, as well as the general brutality of the pit, the fans were all for it, and Morbid Angel knew it.

Morbid Angel has always been known for the grand and overblown nature of their songs, when compared to such contemporaries as Obituary and Deicide. Always having been backed by the quasi mystical philosophies of guitarist Azagthoth, as well as the bands fascination with the Sumerian gods and the Roman Empire, the band’s lyrics (though often pretentious) have been credible and intriguing for over two decades. This no doubt stems from the band’s genuine interest in the subject matter, as well as their insistence that it is down to the individual listener to interpret what he or she will from the lyric sheet. This was clearer than ever on Monday evening, when over one thousand people, of all ages, seemed to get something quite personal and individual out of the performance.

While the band has been charged as having inelegant and overly long songs, coupled with questionable pseudo- Romantic philosophies, I would encourage those dissenters to see the band live. Perhaps then they could witness the sheer ferocity, and obvious musicianship of the band, as well as the utterly captivated audience who, despite the alcohol and expensive tee shirts, seemed sure they were seeing something almost transcending the monotony of the every day.

by James Kent