Anatomia USA: Morbid Angel III

 

 

(old analysis, 10 years ago, corrected some shit)

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B LESSED ARE THE SICK

SWITCH TO PL

A bit off-topic, albeit this is something of a evidence of the internet's influence on an album becoming a legend. Before the internet era, "Blessed Are The Sick" or possibly "Covenant" were considered Morbid Angel's best album, as it made them famous. "Altars" was respected mainly in the most orthodox underground. Today, however, it is generally the opposite. Because of this, "Blessed" is often ignored or dismissed, yet it is the band's only album to receive an edition with a documentary about the making of the album on DVD. The reason? The album was a bestseller for Earache.

My next epiphany came when I heard the title track, "Blessed Are the Sick," in its original version (then known as "Killing All"). The catch was that this version was played in the Altars style, with completely different vocals, different guitars, and different drumming. Compared to the rest of their repertoire, it did sound a bit different, as it was quite slow not only for that band but for Death Metal in general. You could say this particular version was a complete mess and wasn't particularly convincing. It sounded more like an attempt at overthinking things.

It's tempting to call it Sludge, Heavy, even though they're completely separate genres. There are also short, almost Grindcore-esque shots. This mix works on the principle that what you focus on most is how you later associate the album. The album is also somewhat too short. The band has always had its own character/personality, but this is undoubtedly a new face, not only a matter of progress.

Intro – a somewhat lengthy audio drama, with some rather strange hissing and noises. I've read various rumors about the intro, but no official information. It's possible there are some hidden sounds here and there. However, what's important is that the intro seamlessly transitions into the next, iconic track.

Fall From Grace – distinctive and iconic riff that opens this rather mystical album. One of the so-called steamrollers and, to some extent, an represantive of the album. The ending is quite bizarre, sounding like someone riding a carousel too fast and then experiencing nausea.

Brainstorm – here, we have a quick track. I remember reading somewhere that "Brainstorm" was derived from an older MA track, but I have no idea which one, and I don't think I've found any rehearsal to support that theory. Still, it does seem like Trey used some old riffs.

Rebel Lands – a song that's been somewhat ignored by the band and fans alike. Personally, I really like it. It's never been played live, unfortunately. A simple, but a very good theme.

Doomsday Celebration – was it a sacrilege back then? Good question. I think a lot of people definitely turned up their noses at this keyboard interlude.

Day Of Suffering - my personal fave. Short and to the point. Punk Death Metal.

Blessed are the sick / Leading the Rats - a sexual song? Possibly. Pagan, for sure. The title track has a pretty professional video, though it's not very well-known. The outro is phenomenal. When I hear it, I'm reminded that we'll all die someday.

Thy Kingdom Come – a song known from the demo of the same name. This demo allowed MA to sign a contract with Earache, not to mention the fact that the song appeared on the quite famous compilation "Satan's Revenge" alongside Ripping Corpse and Necrovore, Morbids' personal rivals (at least from Necrovore's point of view).

Unholy Blasphemies - the main difference from previously is that the song is half as long. This is because the solos in the original version lasted over a minute. There was also a repeated chorus (which, incidentally, is lyrically different, and I think it was a fragment written by Browning). This version, in turn, has an additional bridge that sounds typically Morbid, as if it were played backwards.

Abominations – a long and atmospheric track. The very dynamic progression of the song keeps us from getting bored while listening to it. There's no point in analyzing it; it has to be listened to.

Desolate Ways – the only Brunelle track that got the green light from Trey and ended up on an album. It's a shame, as the guy definitely should have produced more.

The Ancient Ones – formerly known as "Azagthoth," it's hard to pinpoint the vibe of this track. It's more idyllic, but it also has some crazy moments. There aren't as many differences here as with "Unholy Blasphemies," both versions are relatively similar. The only differences might be in the solos, which stem from Trey having slightly different equipment on the older version, etc.

In Remembrance – a piano outro. Another unexpected surprise for a band that previously rocked from start to finish. There's no denying that this album has a certain grandeur, and smells of expensive production and opulence. However, the band's rebellious spirit is still present.

Freshness: Fall From Grace, Brainstorm, Rebel Lands, Day of Suffering – premiere tracks. Blessed Are The Sick – also, new, but played previously live. Thy Kingdom Come – 1987 rok. Unholy Blasphemies, Abominations, Ancient Ones – 1986 rok, nowe wersje. Reszta to miniaturki, lub instrumentale.

Summary: Premiere tracks: 4. New: 1. Old: 4. Instrumentals: 4. As you can see, despite shedding their baggage, the band still had a few things to work with. Many people criticized the older tracks as being more stylish than the newer ones. I rate the album's overall freshness at 55%, and with the instrumentals, a whopping 70%.