ALBUM REVIEW: Creation Undone – Morta Skuld
Within death metal there is a slew of classic bands that are not only criminally overlooked when people reminisce about the genre’s long and storied history, but many who are also still creating music, some of which is not only their very best work, but also far better than the majority of new death metal acts. MORTA SKULD are one of these bands. Since the release of their first demos in 1990, and even after the band reformed after a lengthy hiatus in 2012, the Wisconsin quartet have remained one of the most revered and talented acts within the scene at large and asserted themselves as one of the most underrated acts within extreme metal. The band’s latest, sixth album, Creation Undone, shows no signs of losing their edge even 34 years deep into their career, making for arguably one of their best albums in the process.
We Rise We Fall kicks things off in rabid fashion, with angular guitars, intricate drums and rumbling bass creating a domineering wall of sound with chaotic flourishes and meaty grooves, making this a ferocious introduction. The coarse vocals only add to the effect, setting a monolithic tone for the rest of the record. The End Of Reason adopts a darker feel, with jarring guitars and monstrous rhythms taking the formula of the opener and making it sinister and denser. Much like the previous track, the throaty vocals add a great counterpoint to the punishing riffs, providing another excellent slab of old school death metal with a thicker sound. Painful Conflict, another solid, groove-laden offering with some brilliant, biting leads and bursts of cacophony, captures the frenetic side of what made We Rise We Fall such a strong effort, with pummelling percussion, abrasive guitar work and searing vocals turning this into a harsher song than the preceding two, without stripping away the punchy qualities that served them so well.
Unforeseen Obstacles proves to be an energetic addition, with the expansive guitar sound, barked vocals, authoritative drums and sludgy basslines all creating yet another punishing powerhouse, shifting towards a larger, more cavernous sound without neglecting to pepper in some belligerent touches. Perfect Prey is straightforward, noxious death metal with muscular, chugging guitars and a tight undercurrent, not unlike Painful Conflict, bringing in fast and furious passages that, as has been the cases on earlier tracks, inject an aggression into the mix and help elevate this significantly, showing just how good classic death metal can be if it’s done well.
Soul Piercing Sorrow embraces a lighter, more melodic approach, but is still utterly visceral, serving as a leaner, more animated take on the band’s style. Noticeably thicker gutturals stand in stark contrast to these stringent, focused elements, transforming this into a fiercer piece of music than it already is. Into Temptation lurches further away from the album’s core sound, taking the melodicism that defined the previous track and making it slicker and more polished, resulting in a much looser, and at points borderline progressive, edge that still makes plenty of room for savage and primal hooks. The bass in particular stands out, cutting through the mix and adding some warmer, bubbling moments that not only fill out the sound but contribute as many impressive moments as the leads and vocals, making this a track with lots of layers that makes it even more effective.
Self Destructive Emotions reverts to a harsher, feral OSDM style, and takes the music to its cacophonous, dissonant extremes at many points, whilst adding lots of catchy leads and chunkier, rhythmic moments, making this one of the album’s most visceral and varied efforts. Oblivion follows in a similar vein, with the heftier bass and drums crafting a fantastic backdrop to the bestial guitars and caustic vocals, and although it fits firmly into the old school template, it’s still a thoroughly bellicose and ferocious affair that holds the listener’s attention. By Design continues this darkly epic formula and has a slower and more ponderous side that feels suitably climactic immediately, with sombre, doom-laden guitars complementing the measured pace perfectly whilst allowing for some of those chaotic flourishes to return as the song reaches its final moments.
Along with its predecessor Suffer For Nothing, Creation Undone represents the strongest material that MORTA SKULD have put out in their career, with only perhaps an album like Dying Remains matching them in terms of diversity and musicianship. Although it is still very much rooted within that murkier, classic death metal sound, there’s enough inventive moments and a broader range of styles present here that help keep things fresh and interesting for listeners. Like a lot of the best OSDM acts, MORTA SKULD are still creating incredibly diverse and ferocious music rather than phoning it in, and there’s a very strong argument that the band are experiencing a high point in their career, at least creatively. And with albums like this, they are still likely to be a force to be reckoned with in death metal for years to come.
Rating: 8/10
Creation Undone is out now via Peaceville Records.
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