It’s hard out here for a death metal band.
For almost 30 years, excluding a decade long break, Morgoth has been terrifying audiences with its gory German Death Metal. Started in 1985 by Rudiger Hennecke and Carsten Otterbach, they tore up their Native Germany before signing to the then upstart, Century Media. From then on we get nothing but brutality till the bands eventual breakup in 1998. A breakup that seemed amicable and warranted after years of touring and recording back to back.
That breakup lasted over a decade. It saw three presidents change office and watched as pop music took over and then faded away. Then in 2010 Morgoth returned to play some festivals in Europe. Shortly there after, with a reunion in full swing, the band got back together and recorded new music which became their latest record, Ungod. Which, Century Media, now a huge record label, released this year.
Ungod has the feeling of a band returning to what they do best. No fancy production of any kind; Ungod isn’t anything flashy. It’s not slick or over produced or doesn’t sound like the band is trying to get out of their wheelhouse. From the opener “House Of Blood” and it’s blood curdling scream to “Snakestate” and it’s slayer-esque riff we really get the sense that this is band out to do what they do best. By doing that, Morgoth has solidified themselves as one of the stalwarts of the Death Metal scene and have really put German Death metal on the map.
The album’s title track, the longest on the album at an ungodly (get it?) six minutes, is as heavy as the album gets. All instrumental, “Ungod” begins softly and builds into a crescendo of screaming guitars and double kick drum. The two guitarists, Harold and Sebastien, really tear it up here, going solo for solo. By the time we reach the end of Ungod with “The Dark Sheep,” it’s clear that Morgoth are here to stay.
With Ungod, Morgoth want to take on the competition and prove they are still able to give death metal audiences the brutality they deserve.
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