Altars of Madness [Extra tracks]

Morbid Angel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Earache Records
• ASIN: B00000582H
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,805 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Immortal Rites

2. Suffocation

3. Visions from the Dark Side

4. Maze of Torment

5. Lord of All Fevers and Plagues

6. Chapel of Ghouls

7. Bleed for the Devil

8. Damnation

9. Blasphemy

10. Evil Spells

11. Maze of Torment [Remix] [*]

12. Chapel of Ghouls [Remix] [*]

13. Blasphemy [Remix] [*]

Editorial Reviews

Last ever copies of this limited edition package! The all time classic debut from Death Metal legends Morbid Angel includes bonus DVD (PAL/Region 0) material as part of the dual disc format, which features the long sought after November 1989 Nottingham Rock City show filmed on four cameras with great sound as the band blaze through most of the cuts from the first record. Altars Of Madness has long been revered as the Death Metal milestone, featuring genre classics including 'Maze Of Torment', 'Chapel Of Ghouls' and 'Immortal Rites'. *Please note you will need an All Code DVD player to view. Earache. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Morbid Angel, classic death metal, July 26, 2005

By 

A. Stutheit "Teyad" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altars of Madness (Audio CD)

Morbid Angel were heavily influenced by Slayer and Sepultura. You'll find the same characteristics on "Altars of Madness" that you'll find on "Reign in Blood" and "Beneath the Remains." Relentless riffs, quick double bass drumming, lightning fast beats, tempo changes, pounding rhythms, scorching solos, Satanic themes...they're all here. But Morbid Angel are still one of the most original and influential death metal bands of all time because, even though they didn't give birth to the genre, they were one of the first death metal bands of the 1980's. Thus, they helped to pave the way for many acts to come (i.e. Nile). Plus, MA's vocalist (David Vincent) is one of the first to use demonic, growly vocals.

Therefore, like Slayer and Sepultura, you're just not metal unless you have a Morbid Angel C.D. And their 1989 debut is a great place to start, if you're new to the band. This is classic death metal done right; it has everything you need for a great album: primarily heaviness, speed, and relentlessness. Yes, "Altars of Madness" does eventually start to sound the same...that's death metal for you!

"Immortal Rites" begins with a riff that sounds sort of like Metallica, circa 1984; but the Metallica comparisons end as soon as the vocals begin. This song also has a fast, driving double bass drum.
"Suffocation" features searing guitar riffs, a pounding rhythm, a tempo change, and two scorching guitar solos.
"Visions from the Darkside" is another full speed ahead thrasher with a lightning fast opening riff, which eventually becomes rigid.
"Maze of Torment" tosses together more blistering guitar riffs with a loud, thumping drum beat.
"Chapel of Ghouls" includes another pounding rhythm with thunderous drums, as well as two ascending, winding solos.
"Bleed for the Devil" has more sprinting beats and riffs, but this song is a highlight because it has a handful of other high pitched solos (the second of which might be the longest solo on this album).

I really wanted to buy this C.D. after I caught Morbid Angel opening for Soulfly, and their set primarily consisted of older material. So, if you still don't want "Altars of Madness," you really need to see this band live.

Morbid Angel definitely had a successful, historic past and, now that David has rejoined his family, they're sure to have a great future, too. In conclusion, as aforementioned, every metal collection needs to have some Morbid Angel, and if you're new to them, "Altars of Madness" is essential listening.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is Classic Death Metal and If You Dont Like It Too Bad!, April 17, 2005

By 

Brendan "Mayhem Master" Calhoun (Everywhere) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altars of Madness (Audio CD)

Morbid Angel are my all time favorite death metal band and this album is a classic piece of extreme metal. Trey Azagthoth is a wizard on the guitar presenting fast, evil, sinister riffs while Pete Sandoval slams and blasts away on the drums. David Vincent is incredable too! His vocals define death metal on this album. A good description of this album if fast(Immortal Rites, Visions Fron the Dark Side), eerie(Chapel of Ghouls), and EVIL!!! You dont truly like death metal unless you like this album!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best Death Metal PERIOD, March 9, 2006

By 

Big J Moreno "Mills" (Naples, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altars of Madness (Audio CD)

I gotta say that the early period of DM is definitely the best, when it was first coming into being as a solid subgenre of metal, before it become all technical and before all the melodic death metal jazz and whatnot. Don't get me wrong, I like albums like "The Jester Race" and Death's Symbolic (which is quite amazing actually) it's just that I liked it when the music was a little more raw and simple ya know? If you're not convinced then I compel you to give this album a spin because this is some or the most terrifying music I've heard, but in a good way of course. The synergy of Dave Vincent's scathingly evil vocals (who's my fave DM vocalist) and Trey Azagthoth's shredding is an explosion straight outta Hell itself. I have to say that man definitely knows how to play the guitar and deserves a lot more praise if ya ask me. This album has some of my favorite DM songs ever such as Immortal Rites and Maze of Torment which I call the "seizure song" because Pete Sandoval's machine gun blast beats will have you not only headbanging but your body going into full-blown convulsions! This is 2nd only to the almighty SEVEN CHURCHES for the title of best DM album ever in my humble opinion.

Hey if you like the 90s era DM better that's more progressive and technical (such as Death's SOP) I perfectly undertand, however, you have to check out the early stuff to see the true potential that death metal has as a formidable genre of music. Oh yeah I won't forget to warn the unsuspecting listener that this is pretty Satanic (like most early DM) so hopefully that won't bother you. Personally I like that kind of stuff, it gets me even more pumped along with the intense music. Plus the teenyboppers HATE this stuff! Just drive around a high school or something and blast this sh*t and see them run in fear!

My recommendation- so if you like this get MA's other albums up to Domination, early Death, SEVEN CHURCHES, Deicide, Obituary for some good old school death metal. LATER