Let’s talk about Volbeat for a minute. They have a huge following and a ton of people dig ‘em. Good for them. I’m just not their target audience. I was born and raised on Carcass, Bolt Thrower and Deicide.
Tag Archives: Morgoth
ALBUM REVIEW: Leper Colony – Leper Colony
If Leper Colony’s self-titled debut album (Transcending Obscurity) is any condition of what to expect musically for 2023, we are in for a helluva treat.
Morgoth Permanently Disbands
Long-running Death Metal band Morgoth has announced they are permanently breaking up. The band had formed in 1985 as Exterminator and operated from 1987-1998 and then reunited in 2010. The band went on hiatus again in 2015, and at the time hinted that they might return. The band posted to their official Facebook page, to bring the news to fans. Their last album was Ungod in 2015, released on Century Media Records.
Carsten Otterbach, Founding Member Of Morgoth Has Died
Sad news today as Carsten Otterbach, a founding member of Morgoth has died after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. He was 48. The guitarist also owned his own management company, Direct Management. Otterbach, played on Morgoth’s first five releases: Resurrection Absurd (1989) and The Eternal Fall (1990), Cursed (1991), Odium (1993) and Feel Sorry For The Fanatic (1996). Century Media Records co-founder Robert Kampf, released the following statement via his Facebook page: “With a very heavy heart, I learned that a close friend of 28 years, Carsten Otterbach, has passed. Carsten had a decade long battle with MS (multiple sclerosis). While he was a trooper and battled it hard for a long time, it was one of those battles that eventually take you down. I will always remember Carsten as a very sharp-minded, well-read, business-savvy and, at the same time, very fun-loving, tolerant and simply great guy. He will always live in my heart. Carsten fought very hard for his artists and was honorable as it gets. Legendary are the fights between my late partner Oliver Withöft and Carsten. The two of them fighting was scary if you were in the room, but always a fun story afterwards. Both were good friends and, unfortunately, did not make it to age 50. “Farewell, Carsten. You will not be forgotten and [will be] held in very high acclaim by your friends and by several generations of metal artist.”
We send our condolences out to Carsten’s family, friends, and fans at this time.
Atrocity – Okkult II
I have always had a lot of time and respect for Alexander Krull. Not only does he share a name with a vastly underrated and not at all terrible fantasy masterpiece (shut it, you…), but throughout his time as the main man of Atrocity he has constantly railed against just doing the straight up and normal, be that by releasing an eighties covers album about fifteen years before it was cool to do so, collaborating with darkwave könige, Das Ich, dark acoustic EP’s with Celtic folk singers, or by mixing massive Prong-ridden grooves with Death and Gothic metal on meisterstück, Blut (Massacre).Continue reading
Music Video: Morgoth – Traitor
German death metallers Morgoth is streaming their new music video for “Traitor” below. The song is off of their latest album Ungod!, out now via Century Media Records.
Jun 13: Czech Death Fest – Cerveny Kostelec (CZ)
Jun 19: Copenhell Festival – Copenhagen (DK)
Jun 20: Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel (BE)
Jun 21: Hellfest – Clisson (FR)
Jun 26-28: Protzen Open Air – Protzen (DE)
Jul 18: Black Frenzy Festival – Wadersloh/Diestedde (DE)
Jul 30-Aug 01: Wacken Open Air – Wacken (DE)
Aug. 13-15: Summer Breeze Open Air – Dinkelsbühl (DE)
Morgoth – Ungod
Another day, another reunion. For the unaware, German quintet Morgoth created a reasonable buzz back in the early 90s with the solid if unspectacular duo of Cursed and Odium. Then they went and spoiled it all by doing something stupid like releasing Feel Sorry for the Fanatic, a bizarre jaunt into experimental electronic territory which appalled fans and led to the band breaking up in 1998. However, like so many others they have returned from the grave and Ungod (all Century Media Records) is the fruit of their labours. Is it worth it?
On first impressions, the answer is a baffled “No!” as the naked Obituary rip-off of ‘House of Blood’ comes lumbering out of the speakers. New vocalist Karsten ‘Jagger’ Jäger sounds so much like John Tardy you’ll be wondering if there’s been a mistake at the pressing plant. Thankfully things improve on the catchy mid-paced ‘Voice of Slumber’ which makes good use of those morose yet subtle melodies that were just enough to give Morgoth their own identity back in the day. Further tracks such as the measured riffing and familiar satanic lyrics of ‘Snakestate’ and the more aggressive attack of ‘Descent into Hell’ are pretty much exactly what the doctor ordered; middle of the road, no-frills death metal that sounds exactly like it was recorded in Florida circa 1993.
Honestly, were you expecting anything different? It’s hardly surprising that Morgoth have retreated to their classic sound (comfort zone) after such a disastrous backfire all those years ago, and they certainly know how to pen a decent death metal tune. However, like Massacre’s comeback record last year which shamelessly traded on former glories, Morgoth seem to think that just turning up and acting like nothing’s changed will be enough. Unfortunately the world of extreme metal is a far more diverse, cut-throat entity than it was in their heyday and it’s difficult to see them standing out from the herd this time round.
6.5/10
JAMES CONWAY
Origin, Morgoth, etc Added To Neurotic Deathfest 2015
Neurotic Deathfest 2015 has added Origin, Morgoth, Centurian and Korpse to this year’s lineup. Europe’s premier indoor extreme metal festival sets place on April 17-19 at 013 venue in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
All confirmed bands for Neurotic Deathfest 2015:
Bloodbath, Obituary, Entombed A.D., Immolation, Origin, Devourment, Nader Sadek, Broken Hope, Pyrexia, Tribulation, Internal Suffering, Benighted, Internal Bleeding, Morgoth, Dead Congregation, Sinister, Disavowed, Soulburn, Liquid Graveyard, Mass Infection, Gorod, Kronos, Centurian, Ingested, Holocausto Canibal, Jig-Ai, Nominon, Unfathomable Ruination, Acranius, Cardiac Arrest, Incinerate, Regurgitate Life, Hideous Divinity, Contrastic, Perfecitizen, The Walking Dead Orchestra, Near Death Condition, Korpse, Bleeding Utopia, Abhorrent Decimation, Neuroma and Slaughter To Prevail.
Neurotic Deathfest on Facebook
Neurotic Deathfest on Twitter
Blastfest: Part II – Bergen, NO
Friday
The third day of festivities saw Wyruz, Alfahanne, Sarkom, Endstille and Keep Of Kalessin open the show with performances at the club stage at Garage. Keep Of Kalessin also proved that they should have been playing somewhere else, as the line to get in to Garage was long enough to deter many fans, and keep others waiting for the entire set length to no avail..
Opening act at the main stage? None other than Borknagar, the local legends presenting a 20th anniversary set, playing an entire three song of ‘The Archaic Course’; ‘Ad Noctum’, ‘Universal’ and ‘Oceans Rise’. Having seen them a couple of times before, it was nice to finally see them put on a good performance, not completely ruined by bad sound or vocalists struggling. The pairing of Athera (Susperia) and ICS Vortex on vocals (and bass) seemed to be key. With showman and world class drummer Baard Kolstad, and a band playing songs like ‘Colossus’ and ‘The Dawn Of The End’, it was better than ever before.
After Finnish black metallers Baptism had catered to the needs of black metal purists upstairs, it was time for Cryptopsy on the main stage. Sadly their sound wasn’t up to par, and the show seemed somewhat uninspired, despite their front man giving speeches like only a North American “jock” can. But a set that ends with ‘Slit Your Guts’ and ‘Phobophile’ is nevertheless quite pleasing, and mostly satisfying.
Then for yet another highlight of the festival, Morgoth – for the first time in Norway according to their own FB page. The Germans have just lost their vocalist Marc Grewe , and many thought that this would be a disappointing performance, like a run-of-the-mill death metal experience. Far from it! From the very start they totally annihilated with sonic bliss! The vocalist sounded just as brutal as Mr Grewe. Starting off with ‘Body Count’, and finishing off with ‘Isolated’, the Germans conquered Bergen for the first time since WW2.
Another band that hadn’t played Bergen in more than ten years were the Swedes in Dark Funeral. All dressed up and showcasing new vocalist Heljarmadr and their new bass player Natt, they gave us a set where they played both songs off of their new single; ‘Temple Of Ahriman’, and ‘Nail Them To The Cross’, as well as old classics like ‘The Dawn No Longer Rises’ and ‘Vobiscum Satanas’.
After Schirenc Plays Pungent Stench stunk up the Studio stage and Paradise Lost gave an impressive showcase of how to play doom metal, it was time for yet another festival highlight, Deströyer 666 at the smaller Studio stage. From the very beginning they made it clear who were in control and what to expect. They unchained the wolves! ‘Raped’, ‘I Am The Wargod’, ‘Black City – Black Fire’, they played all the black thrash that makes blood boil. The pit became intense and was packed with people crammed all together to witness the Australian and antichrist wolfpack.
Headliner this Friday were none other than At The Gates, and they sure proved themselves worthy of that spot, just as they have proven themselves still relevant with their comeback album ‘At War With Reality’ (Century Media). The crowd were taken straight to Gothenburg heaven with the likes of ‘Under A Serpent Sun’, ‘Cold’, ‘Slaughter Of The Soul’ and ‘Blinded By Fear’.
Satan were in Bergen for Beyond The Gates just last fall, and based on that show and festival organizer Yngve seeing them at Bloodstock, they were brought back, once again proving themselves worthy of NWOBHM legend and lore. As someone commented: Brian Ross can still do that falsetto, which is not something to be said of similar band Angel Witch and their Kevin Heybourne.
WORDS BY TRISKELION P.L.
Morgoth Releasing “Snakestate” Lyric Video
Morgoth. Photo by Evelyn Steinweg/www.steinweg-photographie.de
Morgoth has released a lyric video for “Snakestate,” off their upcoming album Ungod, coming out March 30, 2015 in Europe and April 7, 2015 in North America via Century Media Records, here and here.
Stream “Black Enemy” here.
Morgoth live 2015:
Mar 26: Bambi Galore – Hamburg (Germany) (*=Ungod album release shows with Deserted Fear and Incarceration)*
Mar 27: Cassiopeia Dehuman Reign – Berlin (Germany) – (*=Ungod album release shows with Deserted Fear and Dehuman Reign)*
Mar 28: Cafe Cairo – Würzburg (Germany) (*=Ungod album release shows with Deserted Fear and Deathronation) *
Mar 29: AJZ Bahndamm – Wermelskirchen (Germany) – (*=Ungod album release shows with Deserted Fear and Kingdom Of Salvation)*
Jun 13: Czech Death Fest – Cerveny Kostelec (Czech Republic)
Jun 19: Copenhell Festival – Copenhagen (Denmark)
Jun 20: Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel (Belgium)
Jun 21: Hellfest – Clisson (France)
Jun 26-28: Protzen Open Air – Protzen (Germany)
Jul 18: Black Frenzy Festival – Wadersloh/Diestedde (Germany)
Jul 30-Aug 01: Wacken Open Air – Wacken (Germany)
Aug 13-15: Summer Breeze Open Air – Dinkelsbühl (Germany)
Morgoth line-up:
Karsten “Jagger” Jäger – Vocals
Harry Busse – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Sebastian Swart – Rhythm Guitars
Sotirios Kelekidis – Bass
Marc Reign – Drums
Morgoth discography:
Resurrection Absurd EP (1989)
Eternal Fall EP (1990)
Cursed (1991)
Odium (1993)
Feel Sorry For The Fanatic (1996)
1987 – 1997 The Best Of Morgoth Compilation (2005)
Cursed To Live (2012)
God Is Evil Single (2014)
Ungod (2015)