Morbid Angel - _Formulas Fatal To The Flesh_
(Earache, 1998)
by: Adam Wasylyk (10 out of 10)
The first month of 1997 saw the release of my favorite album of that year, My Dying Bride's _Like Gods of the Sun_. It now appears that the first month of 1998 may have a similar result, for Morbid Angel's _Formulas Fatal to the Flesh_ is devastatingly harsh and heavy with brutality unparalleled to any of the band's past material. Apparently, ex-vocalist/bassist David Vincent's departure (to play in his wife's band The Genitorturers) has in absolutely no way affected Morbid Angel; actually, the band have improved since the somewhat stale _Domination_ (which suffered from over-production). The opening 30 seconds will leave the listener in awe of Azagthoth's guitar attack, new vocalist Steve Tucker's raging growls, and Pete's blazing drumming, which haven't seen this speed since his days in Terrorizer. With Vincent gone, Azagthoth has now become the main composer and focal point of Morbid Angel, and he has in turn changed the focus of the band: now, the band sings in praise of the Ancient Gods. Azagthoth has said he didn't care for Vincent's lyrical style (particularly on _Domination_), so the guitarist has dedicated both the music and lyrics to the Ancient Beings, which he has partially built his lifestyle around. You can't help but hear the _Altars of Madness_ influence in the music as there's almost a back to the roots feel to it. Of the 14 songs (five of which are instrumentals), tracks like "Heaving Earth", "Nothing is Not", "Hellspawn: the Birth", and "Covenant of Death" will leave those convinced that Morbid Angel is still one of the best death metal bands in the metal world today, and _Formulas Fatal to the Flesh_ should most certainly be a contender for best record of 1998.

(article published 5/2/1997)


CHATS
25/10/2000 A McKay Morbid Angel: Ageless Angel of Annihilation
10/3/1998 P Schwarz Morbid Angel: Hellspawn Reborn
17/11/1997 A Wasylyk Morbid Angel: A Morbid Update
9/6/1996 A Gaudrault Morbid Angel: Eyes to Read, Ears to Listen
ALBUMS
26/6/2011 A El Naby 2 Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus
23/3/2004 J Smit 9 Morbid Angel - Heretic
GIGS
3/3/2005 T DePalma Morbid Angel Dread Resolve
19/4/2004 J Smit Morbid Angel / Akercocke A Ghouls Night Out
10/1/2001 D Rocher Morbid Angel / Enslaved / The Crown / Dying Fetus / Behemoth / Hypnos Belated Tales of the Unexpected
5/3/2000 M Noll Morbid Angel / Gorgoroth / God Dethroned / Amon Amarth / Krisiun / Occult Formulas Fatal to Gorgoroth
1/9/1998 A Wasylyk Blood of Christ / Morbid Angel A Meeting of Deities
7/6/1998 P Azevedo Morbid Angel / Vader / Entwined Morbid Mayhem
18/4/1996 N Bassett Morbid Angel / At the Gates / Dissection / Sadistic Intent Morbid Angel / At the Gates / Dissection / Sadistic Intent
12/8/1995 A Gaudrault Morbid Angel / Grip Inc. Morbid Angel's Mayhem Unleashed!
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