"Oh Gods, give me poison, poison..." 2000 was marked by many important events, but for those who live by the steel sounds of DEATH METAL, this year was distinguished by a truly momentous occasion -- from the depths of the infernal furnace, the gods MORBID ANGEL unleashed an album of masterful genius, Gateways to Annihilation.
A high-strength alloy of the best developments and discoveries, well-thought-out and tested approaches combined with fresh ideas. Monolithic mid-tempo death metal that, in terms of speed, still yields to its predecessor Formulas Fatal To The Flesh -- metal with excellent riffs and razor-sharp, psychedelic solo passages. And the vocals are simply stunning -- this is exactly what true growling should sound like. As for the six-armed Pete, I'll simply remain silent -- his work, as always, deserves the highest praise.
This album can be praised or criticized at length. Gateways to Annihilation is very deep; it's difficult to fully comprehend and appreciate.
A very notable fact is that the booklet for this album reflects its content and mood 100%, both in substance and in concept. The booklet is not the usual small book but a folded poster. And to see the full artwork you need to unfold it -- it's magnificent. The same goes for the music.