MORS PRINCIPIUM EST – …And Death Said Live
- Posted on 05-12-2012
Transformation can be a scary proposition- especially in the metal world when you lose one of your key members. Such is the case with Finnish melodic death metal band Mors Principium Est. Following the 2007 release of their third album "Liberation= Termination", guitarist Jori Haukio left, followed shortly thereafter by Jarkko Kokko. Spending 4 years to find the right replacements, drummer Mikko Sipola, bassist Teemu Heinola and vocalist Ville Viljanen decided to add one UK axeman in Andy Gillion and a New Zealand second guitarist with Andhe Chandler.
The resulting fourth studio effort "…And Death Said Live" could either put Mors Principium Est back on the map or become fodder for social media scrutiny and end up in bargain bins worldwide. Fortunate for long time followers, the material is well worth the wait. Speedy trilling guitar harmonies and the extreme vocal pushing from Ville make instant favorites like "Bringer of Light" and the haunting "I Will Return" delectable and resonate with the exciting times of the genre back when Dark Tranquility and At The Gates ruled. Andy and Andhe lay down a series of mind-numbing lead breaks, individual and harmonically, and their riffing presents the right balance of integrity, innovation, and melody where you want to see where the next measure and song takes you.
The short keyboard introductions and interludes provide that brief moment to catch your breather before the cannon fire drumming and speed overtakes you once again- "Destroyer of All" and "What the Future Holds" showcasing various shades of their cultural flavoring and ability to keep you head banging at any sensory level. This is a guitar oriented dream album in the melodic death metal field- but I believe could expand horizons for the band’s following into other sub-genres.
Mors Principium Est: welcome back. All hope is not lost in this style- and I expect many accolades placed upon you based on "…And Death Said Live".