MORBID ANGEL - Gateways to Annihilation
October 7, 2000, 23 years ago
(Earache)
Death Metal stalwarts Morbid Angel are never one to let community at large affect the way they construct music. Gateways to Annihilation, the band's latest masterpiece, is one of those albums that requires patience to truly hear what's happening behind the obvious barrage of Death Metal. Unlike the band's previous albums, Gateways to Annihilation moves more at the pace of the Domination. It's a slow, calculated display of Death Metal know-how and ingenuity. Vocalist/bassist Steve Tucker overshadows his newcomer presence - he doesn't enunciate as much as David Vincent but the intonation is on par or better. It's no secret guitarist Trey Azagthoth possesses a tremendous amount of creative energy, all of which focus on his rhythm and lead playing. Here he demonstrates some of his most expressive and twisted lead work since Blessed are the Sick. After 15 years of hard work, Morbid Angel still prove to be one of the genre's most established and forward thinking acts. Hail the ancient ones!
