Morbid Saint // "Spectrum of Death" // Avanzada Metallica // 1988
Following the grand tradition of ripped-jean wearing Morbid Noun metal bands, Morbid Saint are a gem of 80's hesher history. Although the band considered themselves as more "death metal" -- their sonic imprint is decidedly thrash-oriented. Wailing dissonant riffs backed by full speed attacks, pounding drums, and what sounds like a man without a throat on vocals.
Morbid Saint began in 1986 within the seething metal metropolis of Sheboygan, WI (lol?). The material featured here began life as a demo entitled "Lock Up Your Children" released as a cassette and limited to something like 200 copies. It was released in either '87 or '88 and the image above was the cover art for that demo. Quickly sold out, producer Eric Greif re-released the material on his Edge Records. 1988 saw the album's proper release on LP format by Mexican label Avanzada Metallica featuring new artwork (below) and the alternate title "Spectrum of Death."
Roughly around the same time Morbid Saint began their friendship with Florida-based Death. Chuck Schuldiner, vocalist for Death, took on the position as manager. It was here that we saw the vast string of shows and tours that would feature both bands and where the Sheboygan boys would begin seeing more and more acclaim and exposure come their way.
1989 would stand as the band's biggest year. Their first album would see itself released once again, and they would be playing countless more (and bigger) shows. However, in 1990, shortly after their "biggest" show to date (Metal Fest III), they would call it quits.
Eventually though, the call to metal would return -- albeit without bassist Tony Paletti. This is the part that gets a bit bizarre. By 1992 Morbid Saint would have a follow-up album ready entitled "Destruction System." This release would remain extremely elusive though. I am of the understanding that a fan-version is out there in extremely limited numbers that the band released via their fanzine/newsletter, but it's difficult to get any hard confirmation on this.
In 2005, Keltic Records prepared to finally unleash the album in a set with the original "Spectrum of Death." Apparently acquiring permission from Avanzada for the latter, but with no known permission for the former. This would end in conflict however, as Avanzada owned no rights to the "Spectrum of Death" material and the label had no contact with anyone related to the band itself. Inevitably, once released and discovered, Keltic was contacted by Greif on behalf of the band and was forced to liquidate reserves. Since Keltic only pressed 500 copies, this makes the release absurdly limited, and with no projected official release of the material in sight.
For now, this all we really have. Officially anyway.
Last year however, "Spectrum of Death" was reissued by Power Play Records featuring remastered tracks and restored artwork from the original release (not the weird Eddie-like artwork featured on the Grindcore release). Perhaps a revamped "Destruction System" is planned somewhere in future?
Morbid Saint began in 1986 within the seething metal metropolis of Sheboygan, WI (lol?). The material featured here began life as a demo entitled "Lock Up Your Children" released as a cassette and limited to something like 200 copies. It was released in either '87 or '88 and the image above was the cover art for that demo. Quickly sold out, producer Eric Greif re-released the material on his Edge Records. 1988 saw the album's proper release on LP format by Mexican label Avanzada Metallica featuring new artwork (below) and the alternate title "Spectrum of Death."
Roughly around the same time Morbid Saint began their friendship with Florida-based Death. Chuck Schuldiner, vocalist for Death, took on the position as manager. It was here that we saw the vast string of shows and tours that would feature both bands and where the Sheboygan boys would begin seeing more and more acclaim and exposure come their way.
1989 would stand as the band's biggest year. Their first album would see itself released once again, and they would be playing countless more (and bigger) shows. However, in 1990, shortly after their "biggest" show to date (Metal Fest III), they would call it quits.
Eventually though, the call to metal would return -- albeit without bassist Tony Paletti. This is the part that gets a bit bizarre. By 1992 Morbid Saint would have a follow-up album ready entitled "Destruction System." This release would remain extremely elusive though. I am of the understanding that a fan-version is out there in extremely limited numbers that the band released via their fanzine/newsletter, but it's difficult to get any hard confirmation on this.
In 2005, Keltic Records prepared to finally unleash the album in a set with the original "Spectrum of Death." Apparently acquiring permission from Avanzada for the latter, but with no known permission for the former. This would end in conflict however, as Avanzada owned no rights to the "Spectrum of Death" material and the label had no contact with anyone related to the band itself. Inevitably, once released and discovered, Keltic was contacted by Greif on behalf of the band and was forced to liquidate reserves. Since Keltic only pressed 500 copies, this makes the release absurdly limited, and with no projected official release of the material in sight.
For now, this all we really have. Officially anyway.
Last year however, "Spectrum of Death" was reissued by Power Play Records featuring remastered tracks and restored artwork from the original release (not the weird Eddie-like artwork featured on the Grindcore release). Perhaps a revamped "Destruction System" is planned somewhere in future?
Corrections:
ReplyDelete1. The demo entitled "Lock Up Your Children" released as a cassette and limited to 200 copies WAS released by Edge Entertainment, and says so on this extremely rare original release.
2. The release on LP format by Mexican label Avanzada Metallica featuring new artwork and the alternate title "Spectrum of Death" does not have the cover shown on your site. It had the "Eddie-like demon" cover on it. The cover shown on your site was a concept drawing for the cover that was never used. Keltic Records did, however, pilfer the photo and use it for their unauthorized release of SoD in 2005.
Ah, awesome. Thanks a ton for the info -- I'll try and get the corrections put in tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAs I neither own nor have seen any of the original releases in person, my information has mostly been pieced together by interviews and such. Always nice to get further insight!
Uh, it was ME who was sort of managing Morbid Saint. I was also the manager of Chuck Schuldiner and DEATH, hence the connection. As Morbid Saint's producer, and also as a manager guy, I wanted to help Morbid Saint in any way that I could, but I never had any kind of management agreement with those guys - merely did what I could. Cheers, ERIC GREIF
ReplyDeletemy name is ben, and i never update my blog.
ReplyDeleteHere are some photos of the RAREST of the MS releases, the ORIGINAL cassette-only release on Edge Entertainment (Eric Greif's label) entitled "Lock Up Your Children" 1989:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.morbidsaint.com/info_files/lock_front.jpg
http://www.morbidsaint.com/info_files/lock_back.jpg