Death Metal was born as a derivative form of Thrash Metal, because the early bands of the genre were inspired VENOM, SLAYER, EXODUS and others - and by classic Heavy Metal acts as well - but a thing happened during the years of 1983 and 1986: as everyone was trying to sound faster, brutal, aggressive than the others, acts as DEATH, POSSESSED, DEATHSTRIKE (the early incarnation of MASTER), MASSACRE, CELTIC FROST and others created Death Metal (not in a conscious and intentional form, mind you). And it’s what you’ll find on “Altar of Brutality”, the first release of the Porto Rico trio MÖRTUAL.

A sonority classical for North American Death Metal acts is what Dan Lowndes (mixing, mastering) created: brutal, heavy and with aggressive instrumental tunes, but in a way that sounds defined and understandable, enabling the fans to access what the band is trying to express. And the artwork of Marcelo Almeida is showing with what kind of Metal genre you’re dealing with. The trio works on a form of Death Metal that’s classic of the 90s, heavily influenced by traditional names of North American Death Metal School as DEICIDE, MONSTROSITY, IMMOLATION, INCANTATION and others in this sense, but mixing it with some Thrash Metal influences (that can be felt on the guitar riffs in many moments). It’s clear that such formula is known, but their experience allows the trio to bring a new shine on it.

The band has 10 years of experience on their shoulders (counting their days when they previously used the name SEPULCHRATED), what can be felt on all their songs. And “Mortuary Rites”, “Necromancy Ritual”, “Divine Monstrosity”, “Dominion of Eternal Blasphemy”, “Fiendish Visions”, “Skeletal Vortex”, “Altar of Brutality” and “Ecstacy of Death” forms a strong set of Death Metal songs that show that they have potential to become a pillar for the genre on their own country. As final words, it must be said that MÖRTUAL is just starting to show its strength (it’s just their first full-length), but “Altar of Brutality” is really a very good release.