Altars of Madness is the debut studio album by the American death metal band Morbid Angel. It was released in the United Kingdom by Earache Records on May 12, 1989, and in the United States by Combat Records on December 7, 1990. The album is widely regarded as a landmark release in extreme metal and is considered one of the most influential death metal albums of all time.
Background and Recording
The album was recorded in December 1988 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, Florida. Several tracks originated from earlier recordings intended for the band's initially planned debut album, Abominations of Desolation (recorded in 1986 but not released until 1991). Guitarist Trey Azagthoth described a desire to create music that would surpass other bands in the Florida death metal scene in terms of extremity and intensity.
Music and Lyrics
Altars of Madness is classified as death metal with elements of speed metal. It is considered one of the earliest definitive examples of the death metal genre, alongside Possessed's Seven Churches (1985) and Death's Scream Bloody Gore (1987). The album is characterized by extremely fast tempos, complex compositions, technically demanding musicianship, and what critics have described as a "raw and primitive" sound. David Vincent's vocal style features death growls influenced by early English grindcore and Chuck Schuldiner of Death. Lyrically, the album explores themes of Satanism, blasphemy, and Lovecraftian horror.
Track Listing
All music composed by Trey Azagthoth except where noted.
- "Immortal Rites" – 4:04
- "Suffocation" (Azagthoth, Vincent) – 3:15
- "Visions from the Dark Side" (Azagthoth, Vincent) – 4:10
- "Maze of Torment" – 4:25
- "Lord of All Fevers & Plague" – 3:26
- "Chapel of Ghouls" (Azagthoth, Browning) – 4:58
- "Bleed for the Devil" – 2:23
- "Damnation" (Azagthoth, Vincent) – 4:10
- "Blasphemy" – 3:31
- "Evil Spells" – 4:13
Personnel
- David Vincent – bass, vocals
- Trey Azagthoth – guitars
- Richard Brunelle – guitars
- Pete Sandoval – drums
Artwork
The cover artwork was created by Dan Seagrave at age 18. It depicts a flat disk composed of fossil material imprisoning "captured souls." This was Seagrave's first death metal album cover.
Legacy
Altars of Madness has appeared at the top of lists of the greatest death metal albums of all time by Decibel magazine, Terrorizer magazine, and Loudwire. In April 2006, it was inducted into the Decibel Hall of Fame. The album's influence has been observed in the music of bands such as Emperor and Cradle of Filth. Critics have credited the album with helping to define death metal as a distinct style separate from speed and thrash metal.
