Although only formed in 2022, you could easily be forgiven for thinking that Leipzig speed metallers Morbyda have been around since the early eighties as debut album Under the Spell (Dying Victims Productions) hits all the right nostalgia notes while delivering something uniquely its own.

Opening with layered screams, a mid-paced gallop, and vocals from the school of 3 Inches of Blood, “Evil” also boasts memorable lead guitar melodies and a quality dive-bombing solo. “Mother of Decay” is a darker, thrashier affair, kicking off with a drum roll similar to “Pleasure to Kill” by fellow Germans Kreator, while axeman Julian Lichtenheld‘s guitar tone sounds like it spent the last three decades influencing black metal bands rather than the other way around. 

“Open the Gates of Fire” possesses a classic NWOBHM vibe, frontman Chris laying into his vocal cords like he carries spares, while after an intro of cleanly picked strings, standout cut “Turning the Wheel of Steel” delivers another killer riff that sounds like it’s been prowling the scene for years. 

Things slow down a little for the beginning of “The Curse,” a powerful, rhythmic driving riff that soon explodes into another speed-fueled face-ripper. The rhythm section of drummer Joris and Chilean bassist Antonio Martinez show off their talents by holding together riffs that sound like an Iron Maiden album being played at 45 rpm.

After a moodily-picked intro, “Sacrifice” picks up the pace once more, Chris’s vocals either the sound of swallowing broken glass or cleanly performed high-pitched screams. Another track that sounds like it went back in time to influence the likes of Mercyful Fate, “Under Her Spell” is a rip-roaring treat that precedes final cut “Morbid Ways of Dying,” a grand finale that climaxes with its very own Maiden sign-off.

A tightly performed, well-constructed debut that bursts with energy and excitement, Under the Spell delivers a classic sound reflected in an enthusiastic retro production. Perhaps a little too authentic in places, as the vocals are occasionally overpowered by the instruments, but this gets a pass as it usually only lasts for seconds and is actually a perfect reflection of the times and styles by which the band is so clearly influenced. 

Buy the album here:
https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-spell

7 / 10
GARY ALCOCK
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