When one hears certain guitar tones, the player is often unmistakable.  Having worked at music stores, this reviewer can attest to people wanting to outright mimic the tone of everyone from Scott Ian to Brian May.  How does this apply to ZEALOT CULT?  This Irish band that formed ten years ago, whether knowingly or not, has a guitar tone amazingly similar to that of early MORBID ANGEL, at least from "Covenant" backwards.

The title track opens the album and as mentioned above, the tone is borrowed from the kings of Death Metal.  Vocally, however, the singer sounds somewhere between John Tardy and Chuck Schuldiner.  All of the trendy folks will be disappointed because there is no mass orchestration, saxophone parts, or a million changes.  If Death Metal could be served up as comfort food, this would be your grandmother's roast and mashed potatoes.

"Sea of Suffering," the second track, continues with the trend.  The MORBID ANGEL dimension to the band's sound is fully active with this crawler which at once evokes "Where the Slime Live".  After a while, though, the band takes over claiming the song as their own.  By the end, the song has taken many turns to avoid being a blatant copycat despite the song's beginnings.

After beginning with some swiftly played chords, the fifth track, "Blades of Jihad," creates a potent sense of spiraling.  The band then employs palm-muting to deliver a crushing aesthetic to the chords being played.  This track is for all of the old school fans for it definitely strikes a chord that resonates within.  "Servi ad deum," the sixth track, offers a change of pace.  Distorted bass opens the song, and soon, guitars double the bass part forming an edgy, almost Thrash-like piece.  Throughout, the song flows with its own signature groove.

Perhaps the most important element of this album is the production.  By employing a clean production, the band's true intent is audible.  When thinking back to the albums that were released 25-30 years ago, what truly inhibited many was muddy production.  If more classics had the production of today, perhaps there would be more appreciation for the genre.  While ZEALOT CULT don't seem to be blatantly looking for new friends, the production allows every instrument to be heard.

It is without doubt that these Irish musicians are gifted in their craft.  "Spiritual Sickness" is an album that benefits from well-versed creators of the style.  In a time when Extreme Metal is ever expanding, ZEALOT CULT keep their sound on subject.  Metal fans who cannot get enough old school Death Metal will love this, while those looking for their music to cover new ground may find this lacking.  One cannot help but think the band did not want those fans anyway.