Customer Reviews

Altars of Madness

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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!!!

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

Evil guitar riffs, wicked/insane guitar solos, pounding double bass drums, interesting lyrics (if you have an open mind) this classic album has it all. Basically, without Morbid Angel, and this album, a great deal of the metal elites (past and present) would most likely not exist (or sound like they do presently), i.e...Opeth, Emperor, etc.. This album was obviously very important for death metal in general, and death metal making a name for itself, breaking away from thrash in a way(even though obviously, there is quite a bit of thrash influence). I'm not going to elaborate too much on "Altars of Madness" because I think past reviewers have done justice to it. Some of the standout tracks on this album are "Immortal Rites," "Suffocation,"....who am I kidding, they are all standout tracks. Also, the cd booklet has some interesting passages written by Trey Azagthoth about individualism, religion, etc...so be sure to check that out.

You have to give credit to Morbid Angel for their impact on the Florida death metal scene that rose in the late 80's, but you also have to give them credit for making albums that still amaze the listener, even after over fifteen years since they came out. "Altars of Madness" is Morbid Angel's first full-length, and this album is one hell of a ride through lyrics about the ancient ones and Satan, amazing guitar solos and thrashing riffs by Trey Azagthoth and Richard Brunelle, and everything else that made bands like Slayer and Metallica run for their lives. Dave Vincent's vocals are rather unique and hard to compare, and Pete Sandoval's drumming is excellent. This album deserves all the respect it gets. Believe the hype and purchase "Altars of Madness" if you want relentless vintage death metal.

Morbid Angel is a truely inspirational band. The main thing that I love about these phycos is the thought and philosophy that goes behind all the music. The notes in the booklet describe MA's inspiration to leave the world of standard thinking and be creative.

The songs are very brutal, but with some melody in certain places, allowing for a creepier atmosphere. My favorite songs would have to be Immortal Rites, Maze of Torment, Chapel of Ghouls and Damnation. However, all the songs are awesome and full of insanity. And upon close listening, the classical influence can be felt, although not as strong as their later album.

Over all this is a solid and evolutionary release by Morbid Angel.

One more thing, to the reviewer that couldn't stand the Morbid Angel show. I respect your oppinion, however, I felt morbid angel kicked royal ass. Trey has got to be the fastest guitarist I've every seen, and probably one of the coolest. And I'm comparing this to the greats such as Yngwie and Steve Vai. Also, the band as a whole inspired me a great deal and left me incredibly satisfied upon going home. This is comming from someone that isn't that into Death Metal.

I don't like to use the adjective "classic" too often, but when I do I mean it. "Altars of Madness" is a classic. Morbid Angel exploded onto the scene delivering an evil slab of prototype death / black metal from which hundreds of bands have emulated... The songs are frenzied and complex, which compliments the lyrics... Nothing like this had ever been heard before, and it still stands tall in the face of 13 years of imitations. When this was first released ... it was enough to give the mighty Slayer nightmares. If you are any fan at all of death or black metal, this should already be in your collection. A mandatory album in every way.

A perfect introduction to the world of Morbid Angel, their classic debut album "Altars of Madness" is one of the best and most revered death metal albums of all time. Technically profound and surprisingly well produced for it's time, this is the Morbid Angel that fans have become familiar with over the years: aggressive, intense, brutal, and full of pure unadulturated evil, this is death metal at it's best. Standout cuts like "Immortal Rites", "Visions From the Darkside", "Maze of Torment", "Bleed For the Devil", "Damnation", and "Blasphemy" are classic Morbid Angel and are concert staples to this day. All in all, "Altars of Madness" is an almost perfect introduction to the world of death metal, and one of the most influential and essential albums of the genre.

Beyond the good old fashioned scare your parents cover exists some of the illest Metal I've been privy to in this
mortal coil. This is the real deal: The first truly solid Angel Lineup, Featuring master skinpounder Pete Sandoval, fresh out of
Terrorizer(along with a promising young David Vincent), and the Brunelle/Azagthoth duo . All cylinders are firing on this
release, albeit at warp 9. Production is reasonable- the bass is fairly elusive amid a flurry of fretboard fistrape,
but not obscenely so (i.e. And Justice For All).
All turn in standout performances; Sandoval's technique simply punishes one's ears, and Trey's shredding is nothing
short of jaw dropping. Slayer-style speed riffing is taken to an inverse extreme here, but with immense variation and a far grander sense of structure. Azagthoth's solos distort space and time, flawlessly bubbling through imaginative tangents which tickle the senses while still making sense and displaying true inspirational wit. This man truly has tapped into some kind of beautifully warped sense of dynamics within himself. Richard Brunelle is also worthy of mention as Second Lead. Not as stark a difference in styles as with the later Erik Rutan,
but still a very respectable rhythm and lead player. Technique is flawless, the pace is ripping, and the rhythm is simply crushing.
'Immortal Rites' kickstarts the deathrace, Featuring one of Brunelle's better solos and pretty much setting the pace-
Gratuituosly fast. A nice *audible* sample of Vincent Basswork can be found on 'Suffocation' as well.
highlights include 'Immortal Rites', 'Visions from the dark side', and 'Blasphemy'. The latter is Azagthoth and Brunelle at their
most brutal. Lyrics are venomous diatribes against all that is holy. For example: "crush, the holy priest", "we laugh at your bastard child", but man, its got some hateful passion. Florida Death at it's finest. Besides, aside from how distinguished their later works are, this is some crazy evil fun. In short, buy this
and play it till your ears bleed. This is THE definitive Extreme Metal album from a decade ago when the whole scene was
embryonic, raw and full of furious potential.
Historical connotation aside, there's something about the mood it creates with it's blasphemous raspings that gets me in a very fun juvenille I vomit on your bible sort of mood (see: Chapel Of Ghouls, Evil Spells).
While lacking the conceptual mastery of the sophomore effort, the pure steroided musicianship and passion of the performers makes this easily one of the Angel's finest. Psychotic evil rhythmic assault that ties you to the railroad tracks in a cape and moustache while kicking you in the head? Yup. Essential? Uh-huh. Sell blood for? If it comes to that, it's a risk I'm willing to take. Having said that, have fun kids.

Everyone waited for this CD with such anticipation after hearing the first demo. Did it reach the expectations? heck, yeah. Morbid Angel never kicked so much ass. This is as good as "Blessed..."/"Covenant"...even better! "Altars" contains some of my favorite metal tunes. Maze of Torment and Chapel of Ghouls are masterpieces. Period. AoM is pure genius. This record contains riffs that influenced a hundred bands and spawned a new generation of metal. While the production could've been better, this one of the best metal albums in history.