Monday, 9 May 2016

V/A - Morbid Tales: A Tribute To Celtic Frost


Tracklist:-

1. Usurper - Child Bite w/ Philip H Anselmo
2. Procreation Of The Wicked - Persekutor
3. Cherry Orchards - Acid Witch
4. Os Abysmi Vel Daath - Temple Of Void
5. Nocturnal Fear - Municipal Waste
6. Jewel Throne - Hayward (feat: Scott Kelly & Jason Roeder of Neurosis)
7. Dance Sleazy - Coffin's Slave (feat: Scott Carlson of Repulsion)
8. Dawn Of Megiddo - Evoken
9. Reaper - Coffin's Slave (Bonus Flexi)

Tribute albums seem to crop up from time to time, usually featuring obscure bands from far flung countries paying homage to their heroes. This is not one of those tributes, however. US label Corpse Flower Records released this towards the back end of 2015 and managed to tap an impressive array of bands for inclusion, including Child Bite, Acid Witch, Municipal Waste and Evoken, as well as some of extreme metal's most famous names including Philip H Anselmo (Pantera/Down/etc), Scott Kelly & Jason Roeder (both of Neurosis) and Scott Carlson (Repulsion). As they go, this one should be a blinder.


It’s strange to hear a US sludge/hardcore band take on a Celtic Frost song, but Child Bite smash out Usurper with the help of Mr Anselmo. They put their own mark on it with plenty of groove and a ripping solo. Persekutor’s version of Procreation Of The Wicked is more akin to the original. It’s raw and simple with their blackened sound lending itself well to the song. Acid Witch makes use of plenty of menacing vocal reverb on their cover of Cherry Orchards. For a title that conjures up pretty images, it sure is pleasingly hellish! The “heaviest band on the album award” goes to Temple Of Void and their blistering doom/death rendition of Os Abysmi Vel Daath. The b-side starts with one of my all-time favourite new wave thrash bands, Municipal Waste. Hearing their version of Nocturnal Fear makes me wonder why they’ve been missing in action for so long (apart from Iron Reagan and Bat of course!). Hayward’s (featuring Scott Kelly and Jason Roeder of Neurosis) cover of Jewel Throne was one of my most anticipated songs on the tribute, because I really didn’t know what to expect. What I’m greeted with is a noisy but almost industrial take on metal with added blackness. I really like it actually. Another band that I wasn’t familiar with was Coffin’s Slave. They provide a garage-punk/heavy metal version of Dance Sleazy with the help of Scott Carlson (of Repulsion). Tis a glorious racket! The b-side closer is left to Evoken and it’s a haunting cover of Dawn Of Megiddo. More lurching death/doom that more than equals Temple Of Void on the a-side…just. A bonus flexi also comes with the release and features a cover of Hellhammer’s Reaper (pre-Celtic Frost), performed by Coffin’s Slave. It’s more doom-like this time and brilliantly old-school too. There’s also a bonus MP3 including with this release by Black Anvil - Dethroned Emperor, which wasn’t included in this promo for some reason. Anyway. this album is great and the care that was taken with the vinyl pressing (5 colour-ways) and the artwork makes the package well worth a pick-up. 

Morbid Tales... is not streaming online, but you can order the record from Corpse Flower Records here - http://corpseflowerrecords.storenvy.com.

Corpse Flower Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corpseflowerrecords
Persekutor Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/persekutor
Acid Witch Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Acid-Witch
Temple Of Void Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TempleOfVoid
Municipal Waste Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Municipalwaste

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