Review by Vladimir on May 28, 2023.

Well, I guess it’s time for some bestial black/death metal from the fiery depths for all you perverted goatlords out there. For this topic, I’ll be covering a black/death metal band called Morbid Sacrifice, from Italy. The chosen subject from their discography will be their debut full-length album Communion Of The Unholy, released on February 2nd, 2020 via label Cursed Recordings (digital) and Unpure Records (CD). I’ll admit that I was very hesitant to check it out due to a very stereotypical name for a black/death metal band, but I still wanted to give this one a go because I wanted to make sure if there is some good stuff in there.

The album begins with an intro title track that sounds like some Vatican City choir, which I must admit is a nice ironic way to start an album. From then on, it’s savage bestial black metal riffing with death metal influences all the way, with demonic growling vocals that are typical war metal style. Drums in this particular style are very known to incorporate reverse blast beats and a lot of double-bass drumming which are typical for this kind of genre. Songs tend to range between aggressively fast or groovy mid-tempo like on 'Profane Grace', which also throws in punkish elements with d-beat riffing and drumming that only add just more layer of anger to that musical bestiality. Another addition to their original songs is the cover of Bathory’s song 'Reaper' as the tenth track on this album, which I guess serves its purpose in filling the gap and prolonging the album’s runtime. Surprisingly the songwriting is actually not bad as I thought it would be, because the overall arrangements are not one-dimensional or outright random where riffs don’t go well with one another. The growling vocal technique, with some added reverb, does sound a bit like it’s just incomprehensible screaming from start to finish, although I can excuse that small issue just because they are not out of place and do go hand in hand with the music. My other glaring issue I have with the album are the song titles are a little bit off-putting and not on the same level of antichristian or blasphemous vibes as you would expect it to be like with Blasphemy, Archgoat, Bestial Warlust, Black Witchery, Impiety or similar. The sound production is very raw but heavy as well, although it does sound like a quality live recording of a band rehearsal in some professional studio.

Communion Of The Unholy doesn’t have any captivating factors that might attract your attention, but overall, it is a very solid album. I’d say that you shouldn’t hesitate to check this one out in case you ever come across it, especially if you’re into bestial type of black/death bands that enjoy pissing on Christianity and desecrating the womb of holy virgin Mary. Morbid Sacrifice may yet prove what they’re capable of as a band, but this album does certainly show some potential.

Rating: 7.2 out of 10