I’ve been waiting on new material from the Czech Republic’s Morbider since 2009s When Darkness Returns, one of the better, if unheralded examples of Swedish death metal of that year (I actually didn’t hear it until a couple of years later) . And while 5 years is a long time to wait just for 4 songs on a split with Greece’s Abyssus, its somewhat worth the wait.

While country mates Brutally Deceased certainly have stolen Morbider’s thunder in the genre with two albums in that time span, Morbider show that are back in the fray with these 4 tracks. Big,Sunlight sounding  mid range guitars and dashes of galloping melody imbue classic Entombed/Dismember, and the song writing is as strong as the guitar tone. It’s not quite as beefy and bludgeoning as their more Grave inspired country mates, having a little more emphasis on leads and pacing, as evidenced by the classic Left Hand Path vibe of second track, the 6 minute “No More Life” and “Redemption” (with a immediately noticeable nod to Dismember’s “Override of the Overture”) . However, the standout is “God of Torment” opening with a killer, classic Stockholm riff, that many of the current top tier  revival bands, even the likes of Blood Mortized and Entrails, would nod in approval of. And if anything, these 4 tracks show, if Morbider can be a little more productive, they are indeed in the same conversation as those bands.

As far as Athen’s Abyssus, this is my first  time hearing them, despite a collection of 5 splits and EPs since 2012, and you cant help feel they were pulled from a hat to fill out Morbider’s return to the fray. Not that their 5 tracks are chopped liver, and they at least went with a band that has a complimentary sound, being a dusty., musty old school death metal, with a slight but more raw, classic Swedish gait and sound mingled with early Death and Autopsy. However, it’s pretty forgetful if energetic and authentic sounding with throaty thrash vocals over a twangy bass and sturdy cantering riffs. The likes of ‘”Summon the Dead” “Remnants of War” and even a cover of Sodom’s “Outbreak of Evil” are simple and acceptable, but would have preferred Morbider render this split with a more like minded band or another Czech band.

Either way, its good to see lone Morbider member Dan get things going again, and I hope he can keep it going, as the material sounds very promising.

[Visit the band's website]

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