I was so stoked when Morgoth reformed several years ago and even more stoked when the band announced they would write a new record.  I was a fan since their ep’s in the late 80’s.  I saw them live on their mini east coast tour, for The Eternal Fall ep and the band tore the place apart.  Cursed was a fantastic debut album in ’91, but their ’93 Odium album is their best to date and just a timeless piece of original death metal, with some industrial components.

Feel Sorry for the Fanatic, in ’96, was not the same band at all.  Opting for a rock sound, with some techno parts and it is a disgrace to the Morgoth name.  The band now, refuses to acknowledge this album, as their own, but hey Morgoth-it has your name on it, had mostly the same members so just accept the fact that it really is a piece of shit.

Ungod, at least, is a return to the band’s death metal roots and destroys Feel Sorry for the Fanatic, by a landslide, however I find Ungod boring in a lot of parts and it pains me to say this.  First I will go into the good parts, which sums up Ungod.

I thought the God is Evil 7” released in 2014 was ok.  I was happy that Marc Grewe, one of the best throats around, was still bellowing with the band, but then Morgoth booted him.  The new singer Karsten, sounds like vintage late 80’s/early 90’s Grewe.  In some spots he sounds even more evil and powerful.  So no drop off in the vocal department.  This guys vocals are freaking outstanding.  When I close my eyes, sounds exactly like Grewe.  The production is the best the band has ever achieved.  The guitar sounds just like Morgoth, would in the early 90’s, the sound is down pat.  Really heavy and vintage stuff right there.  The snare sound pops really well and the album cover, is by far the best looking Morgoth album cover.  Dark, sinister and satanic looking.  I picked up the limited edition digipak, which includes extra artwork and a few extra tunes.

While this is an excellent sounding album, it still has an early 90’s death metal feel to it and the early Obituary and Death influences are still there.  Some outstanding songs, like “Black Enemy”, “God is Evil”, “Descent into Hell” and one of the best and easily fastest tune the band has done, “Prison in Flesh” are phenomenal tunes.  “Prison in Flesh”, begins with an homage to early Bolt Thrower and then kicks in high gear at the minute mark.  These 4 tunes are ferocious and then….ho hum…before and after these tracks.

The fact that the band opens with “House of Blood” behooves me.  I am puzzled.  Very slow and, while catchy-the tune is a lame opening song.  At least it’s very short.  So I was like, hey the real tune is the next one, “Voice of Slumber”…oh no..ho hum..Boring and slow.  It’s not until the fourth track that any real speed is delivered.  Oh don’t even get me started on the multiple instrumentals on this album. Truly delivering some boring elements.  I am pissed that what could have been a fantastic reunion album, turns out to be rather dull.  85-90% of this album is stuck in boring neutral, played at slow-mid paced moments throughout.

The few glimmers of hope, on the previously mentioned standout tracks, are not enough to pick this album up and there are 13 tracks total with this lmd ed.  The songs are just not memorable enough and the song writing is bland.  I paid $25 for this sucker, so I will give it more chances.  Maybe I need more time with this, it could be a grower, but for now, I’m just not feeling Ungod.  Morgoth can certainly do better.

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