Review by Felix on January 13, 2020.

The return of SDI – isn’t it wonderful? No, alarming! They did not release a new album during the tiny period of the last 31 years. Honestly speaking, I did not miss them. Their clownish debut fulfilled my life ration of SDI sounds. But just when I thought that they are dead they jump, fresh as a daisy, out of their coffin and deliver an album with the cool title 80s Metal Band. Nice name, indeed, but the general question remains: was it really necessary to record – and publish! – twelve new songs? Well, I doubt that this output will catapult the trio into previously unknown regions of popularity. I wish I could say something positive, but the guys are quite lousy songwriters and many lyrics still deal with imbecile topics. Listen to “Porno” and maybe you know what I mean. The lyrics do not fit the verse metre, the chorus seems to be the crippled son of Accept’s “Russian Roulette” and stupid bass lines as well as the unbelievably bad bridge with its ultra-pale melody line do the rest. The song lacks metallic harshness and everything else which makes fun – thank God, there are also better (read: not completely botched) pieces to find. Already the next track “Action” has a speed metal compatible structure and avoids monumental defects. This does not mean that a new classic is born, but it also does not make the audience reflect about suicide as the better solution.

In simple terms: the vocals suck. I regret it, but I cannot say it differently. They do not go hand in hand with the music. In addition, there are so many sections where the voice lacks even the smallest form of aggression. Given this fact, sometimes it seems as if the vocals actually belong to another album. Whenever a piece seems to find the right track, either the ordinary, mostly powerless performance of the lead singer or a shitty Helloween-for-beginners melody tramples the good ideas into the dust immediately. I know, Helloween melodies are always an inspiration to self-mutilation (with the exception of those of “Ride the Sky”), but now SDI – applause – deliver the ultimate nursery rhymes. Fortunately, they do not do it all the time, but still too often. And so, a lot of tracks pass by while spreading a pretty nonsensical aura or none at all. Exceptions? Not really. A good detail like the basic riff of the title track is foiled by the ohoho-vocals at the beginning. Another example - the truly catchy and stirring chorus of “Freeride” has to accept that the inadequate mid-part kills a lot of song’s strength. Generally speaking, the back-from-coma-combo fails to integrate appropriate breaks. Sometimes their songs just start to develop a good flow, but the trio reliably destroys what it just has created in a matter of seconds.

The production is acceptable, even though I miss density and pressure to a certain extent. However, with regard to the songs, it does not make sense to lose many words about the technical realization. And so, I’ll put the focus again on faceless numbers like “Sneaky War”, the boring “She Said” with its Accept rip-off riff or the terrible football anthem “(Let the) Ball Run” which suffers from miserable gang shouts and frustratingly weak guitar lines. And isn’t it almost a burlesque spectacle that a band that hasn’t record an album for more than 30 years proclaims, “we are here, we are now”? Needless to say, that all these cuts shape a pretty heterogeneous work that fails to bring speed and traditional metal together. Due to a couple of mediocre or acceptable pieces and the chorus of “Freeride”, there is perhaps a small chance to get used to this full-length. However, read my lips: I don’t play the guinea pig. I respect and appreciate the metallic passion of the band members and I do not doubt their manual skills, but the best “SDI song” is still the eponymous closer of Violent Force’s only album.

Rating: 3.5 out of 10

Review by Adam M on July 23, 2025.

This was a nice change of pace for melodic death metal when it came out with its distinctive sound and interesting style.  The band puts forth powerful music that is resonant and highly infectious.  There is melody and power in equal measures to be found and this elevates the album into higher realms of possibility.

The musicianship is solid with powerful guitars and a vocalist that has the right rough edge for the music underneath him.  There is a very strong melody to be found in all songs and this leads the album to be very addictive.  It is one of the pioneering melodic death metal albums and powered by a reasonable production job on top of that.

There are very few flaws to be found with this release, but perhaps the biggest one is the lack of memorable nature that is found on Slaughter of the Soul.  This is because the release is more focused on a futuristic sound instead of crafting something that warrants repeat listens.  Still, most metal heads will find something to like here.

All in all, this is a very strong work with plenty of variety and impact.  It is not the best album the genre has seen, yet an extremely potent work.  Fans of bands like Dark Tranquillity will find a lot to like here in particular.

Rating: 7.6/10

Review by JD on August 8, 2011.

When a band is named what is in Latin ‘Death is the beginning’... you know that there is something to it. Finnish Melodic Death Metallers are named as such. Mors Principium Est is a band that already has a leg up on things, when you can use Latin so wonderfully. Now lets see if this massive metal-inspired beast has some teeth for the attack.

Melodic Death Metal is what this bands does, but it is a pale explanation for them. With massive riffs and an uncanny ability to write amazing melodies and lyrics Mors Principium Est is Death Metal with a little more going for them than what they play. They are a lurking musical beast out to pound you into submission.

With the power of a nuclear battleship fully loaded but the finesse of a classical grand master pianist - these guys produced some of the best out there. Just listen to the tracks like the attacking power of 'Pure', the nasty riffing maelstrom of 'Two Steps Away' or take in the amazing lyrical and darkened trip as told by 'The Glass Womb'. The band creates some of the most memorable, nasty and truly moving metal that I have come across... truly spectacular in all areas of the music.

I cringe at what I am going to rate this album at. This is rare for me to do so. Mors Principium Est is a rare breed of metallic monster, they have a talent that cannot be calculated by mere mortals like us. They have finally made the nearest thing to a perfect album in this genre. Move over Children Of Bodom, Mors Principium Est has stomped on your keyboard cheesiness - and taken the Death Metal crown back to what Death truly is all about.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 10
Originality:10
Overall: 10

Rating: 10 out of 10