Info
- Band(s): Morgul Blade
- Label(s): No Remorse Records
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, CD
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: July 30, 2024
- Author(s): FelixS
After a demo/EP, ‘Harbingers Of Power And The World’s End’ from 2019, that sadly enough went under my radar, the American Heavy Metal band Morgul Blade hit me by total surprise with their ‘Fell Sorcery Abounds’-debut album. It was an album brimming with adventurous and versatile metal, it is true that the majority of the offered material can be classified as Heavy Metal, but labelling them as a mere Heavy Metal band actually does them a grand injustice. ‘Fell Sorcery Abounds’ serves you with loads of Folk and Doom Metal alike and overall, a lot of tracks do have a very dark edge that is borderline Black Metal. In short, it was an album to be deeply impressed with and it therefore made me eagerly await its follow-up…
Not counting the self-released live-tape from 2023, that follow-up came in the form of this new record, ‘Heavy Metal Wraiths’, again released by the ever-exciting Greek No Remorse Records. A label that brought us such great works by the commercially successful Eternal Champion or the amazing but overlooked Legendry and Tower Hill. You can definitely leave it up to them to snatch up a great band.
And to start off with a conclusion of sorts, ‘Heavy Metal Wraiths’ totally lives up to the expectations risen by ‘Fell Sorcery Abounds’. In fact, it even quite easily surpasses it. The sumptuous and bewildering variety of styles are even explored further and more refined at the same time. The great and catchy melodies do contrast beautifully with the sometimes sharp and angular Thrashy riffs and the overall rough vocals (a bit reminiscent of those of Midnight). This way it can happen that there in songs like ‘Beneath The Black Sails’, ‘Razor Sharp’ and ‘Neither Cross Nor Crown’ you are tossed around between Epic Heavy Metal melodies and riffs to pounding Power Metal rhythms and blasting Black Metal-like bursts as well as heroic Folk chants and harsh screams.
It might take a few spins to make the album fully stick, maybe because of the volatility of the music, but this is truly one of those albums that is highly addictive. Consequently, I am having ‘Heavy Metal Wraiths’ on heavy rotation that last couple of weeks. Yet, as a whole, this might appeal to people who share a certain appreciation for bands like Running Wild, Midnight, Twisted Tower Dire, Manilla Road and Eternal Champion. But, mind you, you should not be averse to a little experimenting and a distinct edge of Extreme Metal. If you consider yourself a seasoned metal fan with a wide range of musical tastes, Morgul Blade is a band not to be missed. Anno 2024, it is damned rare to bump into such a unique and talented band, so be sure to dig in!
No Remorse Records
- Country: Greece
- Style: Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
