Ever since 2003’s Inhumanity (Listenable), Finnish powerhouse Mors Principium Est have been meticulously perfecting their Melodic Death Metal craft at a time when the genre started to feel a bit overcrowded. Fast forward nearly twenty years later and they are not only at the top of their game, but stand as one of the linchpins of the scene.

Liberate The Unborn Humanity (AFM Records) is a leading example of Mors Principium Est, improving more and more with every album. Not to mention it seems like just yesterday we were blessed with 2020’s Seven (though everything in 2020 simultaneously feels like just yesterday and three generations ago).

It might be the incomparable production value or the electrifying riffs and melodies. Regardless, Liberate is filled to the brim with 13 searing tracks that never bores or disappoints.

The two highlights are ‘The Lust Called Knowledge’ and ‘Two Steps Away.’ The former incorporates a pleasing synth and bass line intro. Add to that a sturdy melodeath chorus followed by magnificent shredding (and a Guitar Hero candidate solo to boot). The latter begins with a catchy melody and is helped along by a somber piano played over an orchestration.

The opener – ‘Cleansing Rain’ – finds Ville Viljanen bellowing with heavy, raspy vocals. Not to mention the semi-automatic guitar and drum bursts that shake the listener to their core. The line “This rain will wash away my sins” can arguably allude to Ernest Hemingway, who was known for using rain as a metaphor for rebirth or turning the page to a new chapter in life.

Furthermore, the one-two punch that is ‘Valley Of Sacrifice, Part 1’ and ‘Finality’ delivers a thundering intro of drums and melodic symphonics, and groovy riffs reign supreme on ‘Life In Black’ and ‘Fragile Flesh.’

‘Pure’ sees the only song on the album that features female singing (angelically delivered alongside acoustic guitars), and I would have loved to have heard more of this, considering how exceptional the band is at combining the two.

Nonetheless, what a ride Liberate is. True veterans refusing to rest on their laurels and churn out unadorned material, Mors Principium Est have stood the test of time, and continue to build upon their already illustrious catalogue.

 

Buy the album here: https://shop.afm-records.de/

 

9 / 10

MATT COOK