Bloodstock – Sunday 14.08.2011 – Part 10 – Morbid Angel

            Photos:

            http://www.flickr.com/photos/snap-your-neck/sets/72157627333285589/

Morbid Angel are another band I discovered through a car boot sale gamble. After judging their LP through the connotations brought to mind when seeing its cover art, I assumed the odds of Altars of Madness sounding brutal were quite high. I knew that record belonged in my collection, and what a good gamble it was. Years later, whilst studying at university, this record was used as an example of atonal music, which is music without a sense of key signature. I was the only person in the room to have even heard of the band, and I remember feeling a little bit smug about the situation.

            Morbid Angel’s most recent release Illud Divinum Insanus, wasn’t exactly greeted with the five star response they’d been hoping for. The album takes a turn in a new direction, one which even surprised their solid fan base of followers. It wasn’t what they were expecting and so they slated it, but fuckinhell, you only get one life, you may as well try something a bit different every now and again. The negative attention the band received due to their stylistic departure, could have affected their position on the bill, and even the size of their crowd, but it didn’t. It just didn’t.

            A gigantic horde had amassed and joined forces, impatiently awaiting the rare opportunity to see four legends of metal do what they do. Chants of Morbid, Morbid began circulating around the huge mob of misfits, like a disease spreading claiming more and more victims for singer David Vincent.

The band entered the stage to an uproar of applause and rapturous shouts, which only got louder when they began to play Immortal Rites off Altars of Madness. I had my camera out ready for one of its last stints, but during that first number, it did not get used once, for my duties were distracted when my head started banging to one of my favourite songs.

Their sound engineer quite clearly knew his shit, as the overall mix of their show far surpassed the quality of any others who tried before. This level of professionalism seemed consistent throughout the camp, for the band did not miss a note.

A truly enjoyable experience was had for all. Morbid Angel didn’t disappoint a single member of the audience.

8/10