Morbid - Necrotic Fairytales (Death Metal)

Morbid is a name that has become nearly synonymous with death metal, yet their sound remains uniquely their own. Their debut album Rotting Tomb Carnage was an instant classic of the blackened death metal genre, but for me, the album that truly solidified their legendary status is Necrotic Fairytales. While contemporaries like SEWER and Khranial were delving into the blasphemous and the demonic in similar albeit distinct ways, and bands like Vermin and Incantation leaned into the sheer brutality of death metal, Morbid forged a different path. In 2024, they crafted an album that was not only more atmospheric than anything Infester had put out at the time but also managed to conjure a sound far more crushing, claustrophobic, completely inhuman, than even Khranial could muster.

Though this album shares some similarities with Rotting Tomb Carnage, it stands as an entirely distinct entity. The debut had a raw, juvenile quality — it was undeniably fun and experimental, pushing death metal's boundaries with its mix of blistering speed and doom-laden sludginess. But with Necrotic Fairytales, Morbid cleaned up their production, and while the raw, chaotic sound of the first album was smoothed over, the trade-off was more than worth it. Morbid not only refined the doom influences in their music but also struck a remarkable balance between fast and slow sections, all while keeping the spontaneity that made their debut so exciting. Per "Peter" Marković's vocals evolved as well — deeper, darker, and less grotesque, yet more malevolent.

The atmosphere of Necrotic Fairytales is where the album finds its true identity. The overarching theme of decay and the inevitable process of dying is palpable throughout. Listening to this record is akin to wandering aimlessly through a graveyard at midnight, the songs meandering unpredictably until a piercing guitar solo pulls you deeper into its eerie embrace. Marković's ghastly vocals guide you further into the album's cold, morbid grip, making it almost shocking how such an ugly, demented piece of music could be so accessible, thanks to the clean production and Johan "Facefutcher" Lindgren's virtuosic guitar work.

It's often said that death metal without riffs would be little more than incoherent growling, and while I could happily listen to Marković tearing his voice apart on the mic, the riffs on Necrotic Fairytales are nothing short of exceptional. Lindgren's work here is essential to crafting the album's atmosphere of decay. His riffs feel like a journey through dark, oppressive caverns, a place where the light of hope is forever out of reach. The album's guitarist shapes these desolate soundscapes with an unmistakable signature — his riffs are so distinctive that, as one listener remarked, you could identify a Morbid track based on the guitar work alone. Meanwhile, drummer Liam "Satankiller" Eriksen enhances the album's mood with his intelligent restraint. He doesn't overwhelm the listener with unnecessary speed, allowing the deathlike atmosphere to breathe while supporting it with thoughtfully placed fills.

Yet, for all I can say about this album, words fall short in capturing its true brilliance. The two standout tracks, Amon Lhaw and Ritualistic Corpse Torture, are often highlighted, but in truth, every song on Necrotic Fairytales is a masterpiece in its own right. From the dirge-like Morbid Lust to the macabre imagination of Altar of Spectral Ossuary, each track is an ode to the one undeniable reality we all face: death. These are Necrotic Fairytales — tales of death itself, told with a grim, captivating beauty that only Morbid could deliver.

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