Thrash metal band Morbid Saint has long attained cult status due to the album “Spectrum of Death”, released in 1990, featuring a morbid Eddie The ‘Ed on the cover. However, such status often comes over time, and even before “Spectrum of Death” became this hidden gem of a thrash album, Morbid Saint had already ceased operations in 1994. The band rose from the dead, and in 2015, they released their second album, “Destruction System”. Despite being an excellent album, it didn’t receive significant attention. Now, the band is back with “Swallowed by Hell,” so let’s see if Morbid Saint gets the attention they deserve.
“Swallowed by Hell” sounds great, which isn’t always the case with bands that resurface after releasing an album in the ’80s, in this case, 1990 … but close enough. In fact, “Swallowed by Hell” reminds me of Sodom, and I can’t shake that feeling. If someone played an April Fools’ joke on me, claiming this is Sodom’s new album, I would fall for it. Not that it’s a problem, as Sodom is one of those bands that still delivers. Morbid Saint evidently does too. “Swallow by Hell” generally sounds great, making it hard to pick standout tracks. However, I particularly enjoy it when they incorporate a galloping rhythm, as heard in “Fuck Them All”. Overall, the album is packed with killer riffs. Truth be told, both “Swallowed by Hell” and “Destruction System” are at least as good as “Spectrum of Death.” The production, in particular, is much better, and the drums are more varied and dynamic in the latter two compared to “Spectrum of Death.” “Swallowed By Hell” also deserves credit for its fantastic cover artwork, created by the legendary Ed Repka.
Released February 9th, 2024, on High Roller Records.
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