UMUR
"Gateways to Annihilation" is the 6th full-length studio album by US, Florida based death metal act Morbid Angel. The album was released through Earache Records in May 2000. It´s the successor to "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh" from 1998 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as guitarist Erik Rutan has returned to the fold, after not playing on "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998)", making Morbid Angel a four-piece again.
"Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998)" was predominantly a brutal and fast-paced death metal release, but "Gateways to Annihilation" is slightly different in style, as the pace is mostly slower and the tracks more dark and heavy. The album´s dark atmosphere is also a result of a sound production which is bottom heavy, brutal, and raw. "Gateways to Annihilation" is possibly Morbid Angel´s most heavy and dark release, and actually a bit unusual in that regard, as many of their albums feature less bottom heavy and brutal sound productions (despite their high level of brutality).
Morbid Angel are a well playing unit and the album features creative drumming, twisted dark guitar riffs and almost abstract chromatic guitar solos, atmosphere enhancing keyboards (typically very low in the mix), and a growling Steve Tucker in front, who puts his mark on the music, much more than he did on "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998)". There´s bite and passion to his delivery on "Gateways to Annihilation", which is a great joy to listen to. There are some higher pitched snarling vocals on "Secured Limitations", and as guitarist Trey Azagthoth is creadited with additional vocals on that particular track, I assume it´s him performing those.
After the short intro track "Kawazu" the album opens properly with the 7:16 minutes long "Summoning Redemption", which is an incredibly heavy and dark death metal track. It sets the tone and pace for most of the remainder of the album although "Gateways to Annihilation" is not a one-dimensional release by any means. Morbid Angel apply faster tempos and rhythm changes to the music throughtout the album and it´s an intriguing release from start to finish. The dark, raw, and occult atmosphere is omnipresent though, and it´s one of the album´s greatest assets.
Upon conclusion "Gateways to Annihilation" is another high quality death metal release by Morbid Angel. It´s raw, dark, and brutal as it´s custome for the style, but as always Morbid Angel twist the conventions of the genre. Their songwriting is simply more adventurous and experimental in nature than what is usual for death metal, and on "Gateways to Annihilation" their creative ideas work well. It´s a slightly more hook laden release than its direct predecessor too, which is only a plus in my book, although it´s definitely not an easily accessible album by any means. For that the complexity of the songwriting and playing are too high. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.