Heretic (Morbid Angel album)

Untitled

Heretic is the seventh studio album by the death metal band Morbid Angel.

Stylistically, this album tends to move between the two differing styles Morbid Angel has toyed with in the past, with moments of powerful speed (Formulas… and Altars…) mixing with moments of atmospheric slowness (Blessed…, Gateways…). This is also the only album made not to be recorded at Morrisound Recording and the band's final release under Earache Records, as the band decided not to renew its contract.

The second track, "Enshrined By Grace," is featured on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre soundtrack. It also had a music video which received airplay in the months following the album release.

The song "Born Again" is actually the intro guitar solo from the song "Secured Limitations" off Gateways to Annihilation.

Track listing

1. "Cleansed in Pestilence (Blade of Elohim)" – 4:35
2. "Enshrined by Grace" – 4:27
3. "Beneath the Hollow" – 4:20
4. "Curse the Flesh" – 3:35
5. "Praise the Strength" – 5:16
6. "Stricken Arise" – 4:10
7. "Place of Many Deaths" – 4:13
8. "Abyssous" – 1:30
9. "God of Our Own Divinity" – 6:21
10. "Within thy Enemy" – 3:17
11. "Memories of the Past" – 3:18
12. "Victorious March of Reign the Conqueror" – 2:37
13. "Drum Check" – 2:51
14. "Born Again" – 2:35

Bonus tracks

The album contains additional tracks after "Born Again". Many of these are silent, while some contain guitar solos or ambiance (notably the sound effects from "Place of Many Deaths" on "Tortured Souls"). When ripped to a computer, the tracks with solos or songs have mostly comical names. The disc has 44 tracks and, according to interviews with Trey Azagthoth, the tracks' numbers and duration have some meaning.

Tracks not listed are silent. Names given are taken directly from the CD-Text on the disc.

30. "Inflections" – 1:35

35. "Tortured Souls" – 3:50 (sound effects from "Place of Many Deaths")

41. "Terror of MechaGodzilla Lava!" – 0:33
42. "Triplet Lava!!" – 0:51
43. "Doomcreeper" – 4:30 (instrumental version of "Beneath the Hollow")
44. "Laff" – 0:18

Bonus Levels

A few pressings of the album were made with an extra disc called Bonus Levels. The first six tracks are all songs off the first disc, with synthesized drums and no vocals. The remaining tracks are guitar solos.

1. "Beneath the Hollow" instrumental – 4:25
2. "Curse the Flesh" instrumental – 3:34
3. "Within Thy Enemy" instrumental – 3:16
4. "God of Our Own Divinity" instrumental – 6:13
5. "Praise the Strength" instrumental – 5:15
6. "Place of Many Deaths" instrumental – 4:06
7. "Beneath the Hollow" guitar solo – 0:23
8. "Curse the Flesh" guitar solo - 0:16
9. "Praise the Strength" guitar solo – 0:16
10. "God of Our Own Divinity" guitar solo – 0:36
11. "Summoning Redemption" guitar solo 1 – 0:28
12. "Summoning Redemption" guitar solo 2 – 0:24
13. "Summoning Redemption" guitar solo 3 – 0:28
14. "Ageless, Still I Am" guitar solo 1 – 0:38
15. "Ageless, Still I Am" guitar solo 2 – 0:24
16. "At One with Nothing" guitar solo 1 – 0:30
17. "At One with Nothing" guitar solo 3 – 0:32
18. "To the Victor the Spoils" guitar solo – 0:38

Chart positions

Top Heatseekers: #27
Top Independent Albums: #28

Credits

• Trey Azagthoth - guitars, vocals
• Pete Sandoval - drums
• Steve Tucker - bass guitar, vocals