This is the second album from US blackened heavy metal band Morgul Blade.
Now there’s an album cover for you. When combined with the title, it that speaks loudly of what you’ll encounter on Heavy Metal Wraiths. Across 36 minutes Morgul Blade deliver a rip-roaring trip through ten boisterous tracks that are designed to get those heads banging and fists pumping.
Morgul Blade have a base of heavy metal that they then build on with choice black metal materials, classic rock spare parts, and occasionally some speed metal decorations. The blackened elements are incorporated well into the music, primarily manifesting in the singer’s Carcass-esque screams, but also making themselves known elsewhere when the occasion calls for it, (infrequent blast beats, for example, or ancient-sounding keyboards). It’s a heady brew, one that could easily go wrong, but thankfully Morgul Blade know what they’re doing.
Heavy Metal Wraiths is well-constructed, making good use of the band’s various influences. The catchy songs are awash with killer riffs and molten leads. There’s a strong epic feel to much of the material, and this works well with the other musical ingredients that come out to play across the album. Keyboards appear at key moments, and the oft-ignored bass has a good presence. There are even some clean vocals used sparingly here and there.
The band know how to write a decent tune, and these songs hit the mark nicely. As well as the ripping songs themselves, there’s also an atmospheric component to Heavy Metal Wraiths that I like. This is not only embedded into the main songs, but also given the spotlight on three interludes. Normally this is three too many, but here they work wonderfully, which is an exceedingly unusual thing for me to be able to say.
This is addictive stuff. Morgul Blade have synthesised a hybrid sound that’s all their own. Heavy Metal Wraiths is damn good fun, and I strongly suggest you give it a spin. Top work Morgul Blade!
Wonderbox Metal 