Morbid Angel have been around for more than twenty years and are the world's premier death metal band.  The pretty much invented the genre and their pioneering music has influenced pretty much every extreme band today.  They were one of the first bands on the Earache label, the first to sign to a major label, and the first to receive video airplay on MTV.  Far from being a basic "blood, death and satan" band, understanding their songs almost presupposes a basic knowledge of Akkadian and ancient Summerian theology.  Some of the tracks on their Formulas Fatal To The Flesh release are written exclusively in the dead tongue, for better or worse.  Guitarist Trey Azagthoth's riffs and solos always sound like he's trying to unleash the forces of chaos and the result is some of the most extreme and brutal metal ever heard.

Gods Of All Heretics is a new release on the Fallen label which is manufactured by the same people behind the Cult Of Evil Gods label.  The liner notes say this was recorded "somewhere in Europe on the Heretic tour".  However, before "Rapture" vocalist Steve Tucker says how much they enjoy playing in Poland.  Since they only played one date in that country it can be placed with certainty in Kadowice on March 13th.  The taper was a fair distance from the stage and produced a fair to good recording.  It's difficult to follow the lyrics, but the drums are audible as are the guitar solos.  Once your ears are adjusted it is enjoyable.

Also enjoyable is the onslaught by the band on this night.  After playing together for so many years they sound like a death machine churning out diabolical madness.  The bulk of the set relies upon material from the Heretic release, but they include classics like "Lord Of All Fevers And Plauges", "Day Of Suffering" from Blessed Are The Sick, and of course "Rapture", their most well known song.  "Chapel Of Ghouls" is extended with a mind blowing Azagthoth solo that progresses into a haze of feedback and distortion before snapping back into the last verse.  "Enshrined By Grace", the final song of the set, is unfortunately cut in the middle because the tape ran out. 

Overall Gods Of All Heretics is a good document of the final full tour with vocalist and bassist Steve Tucker and as a three piece.  Tucker left the band late last year with the triuphant return of David Vincent bringing Morbid Angel closer to the classic line up that produced their definitive releases Altars Of Madness, Blessed Are The Sick and Covenant. The band have also added another guitarist Tony Norman and have already toured twice this year.  Given the paucity recently of Morbid Angel boots, this is a welcome release and definitely recommended.