Morbid Saint - Swallowed by Hell Review

In 2021 we had the pleasure of reviewing the reissue of 1989’s Morbid Saint’s “Spectrum of Death,” a classic piece of an album when it comes to Extreme Metal music. It’s interesting how such a veteran band like them doesn’t have a constant and relevant, in numbers, discography. In fact, 1989’s Morbid Saint’s “Spectrum of Death,” is their debut and sole full lenght. Then, in 1992, they released a fan-exclusive demo titled “Destruction System” as an advance cassette for a planned second full-length, but never was officially released in latter form. A single-sided demo titled “The Black Tape” was released later that year containing only four tracks from the “Destruction System” demo. The band then split-up in 1994. And that’s it.

In early 2010, Morbid Saint announced their reunion with a new line-up, performing various shows in the U.S. and abroad, including the 2012 edition of Maryland Deathfest, Metal on the Rocks in Mexico City and the 2013 edition of the Keep It True festival in Germany. In 2012, the band released the compilation album “Thrashaholic,” containing both “Spectrum of Death” and “Destruction System” in remastered CD-R format, with four new songs and a live DVD in DVD-R format.

In 2014, the band released the live album “Beyond the States of Hell,” which was recorded live from Beijing. In November 2015, “Destruction System” was officially released as the band’s second full-length album that was originally intended for release in 1992, but went unfinished since then, with new artwork.

Now, we have them back after this long hiatus and all the comes and goes, the band is back with “Swallowed by Hell,” their finest album so far with slants of modernity and from the good old times, more of the later if you allow me to say. Truth be told, from what I’ve been hearing here this album sounds awfully modern. The mix of Thrash Metal riffings with Death Metal ferosity make this album such a unique thing. “F* Them All” is one of the tracks that represents this idea better. The song is the perfect match with all the musical ideas that come from Thrash Metal with Death Metal. Of course, in the middle of it all, there are tracks that are pure Thrash Metal as “Pine Tuxedo” with that Thrash Metal cadence made famous all over the years.

Album warmer “Rise from the Ashes” has the best self-explaining tittle ever telling. The song is a real carnage spilling blood all over. It commences with the famous stop-and-go guitar riffing with a following drumming. Its speed is just fantastic showing all the technique and dextery a Metal musician must have to do such a thing. Old School Thrash Metal at its best. With the same insane speed – I guess a little faster – comes tittle track “Swallowed by Hell” with the same Old School Thrash Metal power and vigor. It’s the track to headbang all the way. It’s incredible the way the band strikes and creates this atmosphere of pure musical carnage and mayhem.

With all its history and meaning, “Swallowed by Hell” is undoubtedly one of the albums of the year and it’s only February. It’s the power of veterans.

Morbid Saint “Swallowed by Hell” was released on February 09th via High Roller Records.

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