Years of Decay 1998

“The Archaic Course” is the first Borknagar album to feature the eloquent vocals of ICS Vortex (Simen Hestnæs) and their last album with original drummer Grim (Erik Brødreskift). It contains eight tracks, runs for just under 38 minutes and has greatly improved production quality compared to the previous releases. It offers enchanting guitar interludes, ambient synth, mind-blowing drumming, and diverse vocals, with harsh, and guttural as well as clean, powerful and alluring styles. The stand-out tracks for me have to be “Oceans Rise” and “Black Token”, although there are many other highlights throughout the album.

At the time of it’s release I can only imagine how wildly ambitious and unorthodox this album felt to some listeners. Back in the mid-to-late 90’s the presence of anything folk-related in extreme metal wasn’t as commonplace as today, so this sound was fairly unique. Perhaps this progressive approach contributed to the seemingly divergent opinions and reviews of this album, or perhaps others were simply disheartened with the shift into a less extreme style of metal. Nevertheless, for me personally, Borknagar‘s “The Archaic Course” was a solid, cohesive and memorable release from 1998.

Proua Metallist

Without taking anything away from the Vincent years, “Formulas Fatal to the Flesh” sure does crush. With all of the crazy, Hardcore- Sludge- Doom- Death- Blackened- Grind- Experimental- crazy- time- signature- jumping Metal bands today, it’s nice to revisit a simpler time and be reminded that MORBID ANGEL pretty much created and honed a template of Death Metal that myriad bands have drawn from since. And 22 years later, “Formulas Fatal To The Flesh” can still melt iron bars at ten paces.

Although Tucker (and previously Vincent) would take the literal centre stage, the real heart of the band is, was and will always be guitarist Trey Azagthoth and his incredibly fluid guitar playing style. Azagthoth wields his guitar like he’s furiously shaking demonic jets of fire from it right onto tape. Sure you can find guitarists faster or more technical, but there’s something so satisfyingly about how Azagthoth summons these inspired and demented solos from his guitar on tracks like the earth flattening “Nothing Is Not”, or the monstrously heavy “Umulamahri”.

In fact, perhaps more than any other MORBID ANGEL album, “Formulas Fatal To The Flesh” is a showcase for the mind-bending, musical whims of Azagthoth. While the first half of the album is track after track of recognisably pummeling death metal riffing, the super fast, double bass pedalling fury of Pete “Commando” Sandoval, and Tucker picking up from where Vincent left off, the second half of the album is much more experimental, with the shimmering guitar work of instrumental “Hymn to a Gas Giant”, the spooky, chiming instrumental incantation “Ascent Through the Spheres” and the tribal sounding drum procession of “Hymnos Rituales de Guerra” taking the album in unexpected directions.

The album certainly does meander off into strange territory, but for me that’s part of its charm. I don’t know what spirits Azagthoth and his cohorts were summoning back in ‘98, but they sure got hold of some wild ones.

Tom Boatman

Let´s talk about Death.
The last breath, “The Sound of Perseverance” was the seventh and last Death full production with 9 tracks including the “Painkiller”, Judas Priest cover as the last piece. An this is a superb cover!!! There are no words anymore to qualify this band and their legacy, but praises TSOP always is a good reason to talk about it.
So much time spent at the rehearsal studio reflected a very comfortable atmosphere, it felt like being at home, in words of the second guitarist Shannon Hamm. Rehearsals, metal, football, barbeques, rehearsals, basketball and Chuck´s amazing homemade salsa, what can go wrong? With some line-up changes during the demo recordings, Schuldiner made his last album a very special experience for the musicians who worked with him. And this record is on another level than their previous full-length albums.
As the track number four title says, this albums has a ”Story to Tell” to everyone. The story of the constant searching for technique and perfection in a music symbiosis for the pleasure of our ears. This album represents the Chuck effort for being a better musician, a better person, a better friend, and the most important thing…. leave a legacy. Their sound and style changes here, TSOP shows a different form, but who cares, Death always is death metal at his finest.

As Shannon says, “This album closes the final chapter and it will only continue to grow over time for new generations and show them the spirit of “perseverance” through the eye of a genuine musical genius”.
In my humble opinion, this album deserves the timeless praises for being a great work, “a moment of clarity” in our hearts, minds, and souls.

Jammerfal

Did I just write two paragraphs saying exactly the same thing with different words? Damn, I think I did.

Anyway, this is a super heavy album with a slick production by Roy Z who also shares guitar duties with the great Adrian Smith. Roy Z captures the best of Dickinson and Smith while helping write a super cohesive effort. There are no flaws that I can think of about this release. It has it all. The heaviness, the voice we all love, great musicianship and songs that talk about arcane and dark things spawned by William’s Blake influence.
Just listen to the catchy The Tower and it’s great bass line that opens. Don’t you love the lyrics? Yes you do! “The fountain the trinity the pilgrim is searching for his blood!”. Such a great song. Another highlight is Jerusalem of course. With the great Bruce bringing this classic to life as metalheads deserve. But, my fave song here is the last one, The Alchemist. Somehow it reminds me of the close for Sabbath Heaven and Hell, Lonely Is The World I kid you not. It has that vibe… or is it just my brain trying to squeeze some Sabbath reference? You decide. You must listen to this album again. You are commanded. Obey!

Perrö