In 2015, like a ghoul clawing its way out of a forgotten grave, MORGOTH's debut EP, "Resurrection Absurd," was exhumed and thrust back into the harsh light of day. This wasn't just a simple reissue; it was a reminder of a time when death metal was young, hungry, and dripping with the anxieties of a world in flux.
Back in 1989, as the Berlin Wall crumbled and history teetered on the precipice, MORGOTH unleashed a sonic exorcism from the heart of a changing Germany. "Resurrection Absurd" wasn't just another death metal record; it was a guttural scream against the void, a reflection of a nation wrestling with its demons.
This wasn't the sunny, gore-soaked death metal of Florida. MORGOTH's sound was bleak, nihilistic, and drenched in the existential dread of a country still haunted by its past. This was music born in the bombed-out ruins of post-war Germany, a soundtrack to a generation grappling with the weight of history.
Revisiting "Resurrection Absurd" in 2015 was like opening a time capsule, a reminder of death metal's raw, unfiltered power. Marc Grewe's vocals were a tortured howl, the guitars a buzzsaw symphony of dissonance, and the drums pounded with relentless fury. This wasn't music for the faint of heart; it was a visceral, uncompromising experience.
But beneath the sonic brutality, there was a glimmer of something more. MORGOTH weren't afraid to experiment, incorporating eerie keyboard melodies and atmospheric interludes into their sonic onslaught. This was death metal with a touch of gothic grandeur, a hint of the darkness lurking beneath the surface.
Of course, no discussion of MORGOTH would be complete without mentioning the controversy that once surrounded them. Some accused the band of harboring neo-Nazi sympathies, their lyrics and imagery tapping into the darker side of German history. The band vehemently denied these accusations, claiming their music was a reflection of the human condition, not a political statement.
The reissue of "Resurrection Absurd" served as a reminder of the power of extreme music to channel the anxieties of a generation. It was a raw, unfiltered expression of rage and despair, a sonic middle finger to a world on the brink of change.
Produced by the legendary Harris Johns (who also worked with Sodom, Kreator, and Voivod) and recorded at Musiclab Studio in Berlin, "Resurrection Absurd" captured the raw energy of MORGOTH's early live performances. Johns' signature sound, with its emphasis on crunchy guitars and thunderous drums, perfectly complemented the band's aggressive style.
This reissue wasn't just a nostalgia trip; it was a testament to the enduring power of MORGOTH's music. It reminded us that even in the darkest of times, there's still room for catharsis and rebellion. And that's something worth screaming about, even decades later.
