I just assume most of the people who populate a site called “Metal Review” have some passing experience with Morbid Angel. I would think everyone has heard a few of their records and is familiar with the band’s style and social leanings. If not, I wouldn’t know where to begin to get you caught up. Theirs was the first “death metal” record I ever purchased – Altars of Madness, and they more or less helped define what I consider Death Metal to be. Between them, Bolt Thrower, Carcass and Godflesh my attitude about heavy music was forever twisted. Heretic is the “H” album – the band seems to like to come up with album titles alphabetically for some reason, and it finds the band reverting to three piece format and opting once again for a flatter production style. It reminds me quite a bit of the sound they had during the Covenant/Domination years. This is not a particularly positive thing in my opinion. The drums sound like plastic toys, and there is almost no sign of the bass in the mix. Granted it’s a little nitpicky, but I like my metal heavier than this. The compositions are hit or miss as well, Track one comes out of the gates with a flurry of action that ends up being rather forgetful, sort of setting the tone for the record. The next couple are very good slower tempoed (as such) songs, memorable and punishing, but never attaining the same levels as “Suffocation” or “Blessed Are the Sick”, or even later day greats such as “Secured Limitations”. There are a couple of “soundscape” breaks, one of which is actual song length, but they don’t really add much to the mood of the record. They are also back to back, which is obnoxious. When used to break up the songs one at a time these are always kind of cool, but placed together they are just tedious. The musicianship of a Morbid Angel record is nearly always beyond criticism, regardless of the methods of recording the performances. Azagthoth is at his usual cerebrally decadant best, throwing surprising melodies where you wouldn’t be looking for them, and then poking your attention with echoed out noise solos strewn with just enough virtuosity to keep it from being simple chaotic wankery. Pete Sandoval (Pedro?) is still a monster behind the kit, tossing around changeup tempos and blast beats that shouldn’t fit but always do when listened to in the context of the songs as a whole. Steve Tucker’s voice is abrasive, and shouty, incomprehensible and expected. I wish to hell I could tell you how his bass playing sounds, but he might as well not have bothered. It’s all lost in the mix. Trey and Pedro/Pete get an amusing chance to show you their dicks at the end of the disc with a couple of “soundcheck solos”. Yeah, it’s over the top and completely egotistical, but they can fucking play! Bottom line: longtime fans will be happy to know that Morbid Angel are still twisting the threads of what you expect from death metal, and either happy or disappointed to know that they are going back to a rawer, flatter sound. Anyone not already a fan could probably find better examples of the MA style to get acquainted with, but this is at the very least a decent record with excellent performances. I will be listening to it again.
