Morta Skuld – Creation Undone
Morta Skuld – Creation Undone
Peaceville Records
Release Date: 23/02/2024
Running Time: 44:28
Review by Richard Oliver
8/10
“Creation Undone” is the seventh album from cult old school death metallers Morta Skuld. Formed in Milwaukee in 1990, the band are most remembered by the death metal community for their cult classic albums “Dying Remains” and “As Humanity Fades” (both essential death metal listens if you have not heard them). The band split in 1998 but were reformed in 2012 with only frontman and guitarist Dave Gregor remaining from the band’s early days. The same line-up from previous album “Suffer For Nothing” returns for this album and “Creation Undone” is another solid entry in the Morta Skuld discography.
Morta Skuld have an old school death metal aesthetic about them but it is beamed through contemporary lenses much in the same way that modern day Cannibal Corpse albums sound equally old school and modern. Morta Skuld are more of a malevolent sounding beast though and whilst this is a vicious and bludgeoning musical assault like all good death metal should be, there is a greater emphasis on darkness and atmosphere in the music rather than just sheer crushing violence. Songs such as ‘The End Of Reason’, ‘Into Temptation’ and ‘By Design’ have this sinister undertone to them which make them sound evil as well as brutal. There are also songs where the brutality and aggression take centre stage such as ‘Unforeseen Obstacles’, ‘Perfect Prey’ and ‘Soul Piercing Sorrow’ and they absolutely rage. With the same line-up carrying over from the last record, the band sound confident and assured in their performances. Especially drummer Eric House who brings the house down with a devastating performance and some absolutely relentless blast-beats and double kicks. The vocals from Dave Gregor aren’t quite as vicious as they were back in the day but he still packs a snarl! Though his power as a guitarist is far from diminished with a destructive barrage of riffs dished out between him and fellow guitarist Scott Willecke. Can’t forget bass player John Hill who puts in a vicious performance and whose bass can actually be heard loud and clear in the mix (a rarity for death metal!).
“Creation Undone” won’t win any awards for originality but what it does achieve is that it is a hugely enjoyable and incredibly solid death metal album. Everything is done to an extremely high level of quality from the crafting of the songs to the excellent musicianship. I was very impressed by the band’s 2020 album “Suffer For Nothing” and the dynamic of that album is very much continued here and built upon. Death metal is a genre that is always being pulled in different directions but it is always most effective in its purest form as this album most definitely displays.
TRACKLISTING:
01. We Rise We Fall
02. The End Of Reason
03. Painful Conflict
04. Unforeseen Obstacles
05. Perfect Prey
06. Soul Piercing Sorrow
07. Into Temptation
08. Self Destructive Emotions
09. Oblivion
10. By Design
LINE-UP:
Dave Gregor – Vocals & Guitars
Eric House – Drums
John Hill – Bass
Scott Willecke – Guitars
LINKS:
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