Morbid Saint - Spectrum of Death

Morbid Saint was a thrash band from Sheboygan, WI that released one album, Spectrum of Death. In 1989, a small Mexican label, Avanzada Metallica, put out the album, which Grind Core reissued in 1991. The band also recorded a set of demos called Destruction System, which Keltic packaged together with Spectrum of Death into one CD. Interestingly, the Keltic reissue has the original intended artwork and not the silly demon that ended up on the cover.

That Morbid Saint only had one album is a damn shame, as it’s absolutely raging. I’d easily put it next to Hell Awaits in terms of its complexity, song lengths, and typically ’80s reverbed-out production. For those of us that fondly remember tight jeans and white high-tops, this is pure gold. Speedy riffs, tempo switchups, gang vocals, dive-bombing solos – it’s all here. The vocals are quite unique, somewhere in between thrash sneers and black metal shrieks. Normally I’m not a fan of so much reverb, but it really makes the vocals sound evil.

Lock Up Your Children
Crying For Death

Evidently, the album will be reissued yet again, with remastered audio, new artwork, liner notes, etc. Frankly, the sound quality of the original seems fine to me. However, the reissue will hopefully keep people from resorting to eBay (like I did) to get this. If you can’t wait, then try your luck

@ eBay

You can also supposedly ask the band on their MySpace, and they’ll send you MP3’s. There’s also a page that’s the closest thing to a website the band has. Ex-Morbid Saint members have a new band called Hallowcore, which I haven’t heard. If anyone has any insight into their sound or whereabouts, hit me up.

This album is now available

@ Amazon
@ eMusic