Morbid Angel
Blessed Are The Sick

THE REVIEW

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Talking about Morbid Angel is talking about death metal. A pioneer of this movement, formed in the mid-80s, and after their recording debut with Altars Of Madness, the American band in February 1991 gave birth to one of the darkest, sickest, and most extreme albums ever conceived at that time, Blessed Are The Sick, an album decidedly heavier and more twisted compared to the more straightforward debut.

After being dazzled by the splendor of the cover, depicting Delville's painting "Les tresors de Satan," an apocalyptic intro opens a flood of malignancy exemplarily vomited by the much-lamented David Vincent, a perfect screamer and charismatic frontman whom Morbid Angel has not been able to adequately replace with the talented Steve Tucker. In this work, the songwriting is at its peak, with the four members at the height of their abilities, thanks to the great display of power and technique by Pete Sandoval on drums and the musical taste of Richard Brunelle, the band's only melodic soul, whose departure, in fact, will cause the band to lose some of those melancholic and dreamlike atmospheres that significantly contributed to creating a dark and malevolent feeling. In Blessed Are The Sick, we can literally find everything: powerful and cadenced tracks, grind outbursts, sweet and decadent instrumental pieces, lightning-fast solos; songs like "Brainstorm," "The Ancient Ones," and "Unholy Blasphemies" have now become classics of the band, as well as of death metal.

Amid so much cruelty, the authentic poetry of "Desolate Ways" emerges, which, in my opinion, is the most bitter, sad, and intense arpeggio ever written by Morbid Angel, encapsulating all the spirit and essence of Blessed Are The Sick, whose sensations, so violent and savage, are expressed through such a gentle and haunting piece. It is undeniable that this second effort is undoubtedly the darkest, most introspective, and fundamental work both for Morbid Angel's career and for the global death scene; an important album that, when listening to it now, will make us long for the old days.