Ελληνικά
Genre: Blackened Heavy Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: No Remorse Records
Year: 2024
Hailing from Philadelphia Pennsylvania Morgul Blade, for those who aren’t into Tolkien universe not only took their moniker from it (Morgul-blades, also called “Morgul-knives”, were magical and poisonous daggers from the Lord of the Rings franchise. They were used by Ringwraiths during the Third Age. After having tasted flesh, the dagger breaks, leaving a shard of the blade in its victim), but also are heavily inspired as their lyrics narrate dark stories that respond to Tolkien’s works. But they don’t stop there as their lyrical content stretches beyond Tolkien and into themes such as folklore, history, the occult, even their singer’s Lord Klauf beloved Philadelphia Eagles on the anthemic (“Eagle Strike”) in their new album that is out again via No Remorse Records. Entitled ‘Heavy Metal Wraiths’, their sophomore full length, follow up three years to their splendid debut ‘Fell Sorcery Abounds’ that was praised both by fans and music press. Don’t forget that despite the aforesaid lyric subjects, Morgul Blade continue to be a working class band with an from the boys to the boys attitude (check songs like “Razor Sharp” and “Neither Cross Nor Crown,” which speak to the band’s aforementioned attitude for instance). Their music continues flirting with classic Heavy Metal with catchy and sharp riffs, while their vocals and approaching is actually close enough to Blackened Heavy, bringing in mind bands such as Bewitched and more precise Satan’s Host. Yet some speedy hymns like “Frostwyrm Calvary” have this cold air of Black Metal freezing your heart. Furthermore the band while they didn’t sacrifice any of their hostility, this time they managed to flourish their sound with Scorpions-like elements trying to reach a bigger audience, not in a mainstream way but mostly in a wider range of ideas mixed together. Songs like the title track and “Beneath the Black Sails” still have the expected Tolkien lore, and seem to be written for live performances, why not even for with the arena rock attitude inspired by Dokken and the Scorpions (“Neither Cross Nor Crown” has some damn catchy 80’s guitars). Of course, the heavy parts and the doom passages balance the final result that is full epic and gloomy dirges. “The Last In A Line Of Kings”, is an ambitious composition that sounds melodic black to my ears despite the dungeon synth opening and speaking of dungeon synth, you can’t ignore interlude “A Welcoming Hearth” which sounds like an RPG soundtrack. So, may Morgul Blade wanted to sound here grandiose and arena rock inspired, but their origins and bonds with extreme and traditional /blackened heavy metal are so strong, that the final result can’t escape the underground, yet this doesn’t bother us at all as the album is outstanding.
