MORGUE – Close to Complete Darkness

I found the previous offering by these French sickos titled Lowest Depths of Misery (2022) an utterly amazing and well-crafted piece of work that appealed to all manner of morbid instincts, and the great news is that their latest album, which is fittingly called Close to Complete Darkness, is even filthier, more varied, and all-out engrossing than anything that came before. This one is truly the sound of two musically gifted individuals who understand the meaning of composing perfectly eerie material and making sure that a record comes across as a memorable listen regardless of how savage it is.

In terms of style and genre, we are still rooted in absolutely ferocious and face-ripping death metal with a few grind and black metal influences thrown in for good measure, and despite the oftentimes dissonant riffing and unsettling twists that occur, the record captivates the imagination from the get-go and strikes these ears as being rather accessible without losing an ounce of longevity.

These guys are experts at maintaining momentum throughout and keeping things sufficiently dynamic so that there is simply no room for the listener to ever feel anything but attracted to their intense aural assault on the senses. The pace of the LP alternates throughout, which entails that you will be subjected to countless mid-tempo parts and slow-burning passages that will tear you a new asshole as exemplified by the catchy tracks named “Doorways in Crimson Red,” “Sulphurous Fire,” and “Disobedience.”

With their last two albums Morgue have certainly carved out a solid reputation as purveyors of raw, meaty, and blistering death metal possessing staying power. Highly recommended to all maniacs out there.