'''Heretic''' is the seventh studio album by the
death metal band
Morbid Angel.
Stylistically, this album tends to move between the two differing styles Morbid Angel has toyed with in the past, with moments of powerful speed (''Formulas…'' and ''Altars…'') mixing with moments of atmospheric slowness (''Blessed…'', ''Gateways…''). This is also the only album made not to be recorded at
Morrisound Studios and the band's final release under
Earache Records, as the band decided not to renew its contract.
The song "Born Again" is actually the outro guitar solo from the song "Secured Limitations" off ''
Gateways to Annihilation''.
Track listing
#"Cleansed in Pestilence (Blade of Elohim)" – 4:35
#"Enshrined by Grace" – 4:27
#"Beneath the Hollow" – 4:20
#"Curse the Flesh" – 3:35
#"Praise the Strength" – 5:16
#"Stricken Arise" – 4:10
#"Place of Many Deaths" – 4:13
#"Abyssous" – 1:30
#"God of Our Own Divinity" – 6:21
#"Within Thy Enemy" – 3:17
#"Memories of the Past" – 3:18
#"Victorious March of Reign the Conqueror" – 2:37
#"Drum Check" – 2:51
#"Born Again" – 2:35
Bonus tracks
The album contains additional tracks after "Born Again". Many of these are silent, while some contain guitar solos or ambiance (notably the sound effects from "Place of Many Deaths" on "Tortured Souls"). When ripped to a computer, the tracks with solos or songs have mostly comical names. The disc has 44 tracks, and, according to interviews with
Trey Azagthoth, the tracks' numbers and duration have some meaning.
Tracks not listed are silent. Names given are taken directly from the
CD-Text on the disc.
- "Inflections" – 1:35
- "Tortured Souls" – 3:50 (sound effects from "Place of Many Deaths")
- "Terror of MechaGodzilla Lava!" – 0:33
- "Triplet Lava!!" – 0:51
- "Doomcreeper" – 4:30 (instrumental version of "Beneath the Hollow")
- "Laff" – 0:18
''Bonus Levels''
A few pressings of the album were made with an extra disc called ''Bonus Levels''. The first six tracks are all songs off the first disc, with synthesized drums and no vocals. The remaining tracks are guitar solos.
#"Beneath the Hollow" instrumental – 4:25
#"Curse the Flesh" instrumental – 3:34
#"Within Thy Enemy" instrumental – 3:16
#"God of Our Own Divinity" instrumental – 6:13
#"Praise the Strength" instrumental – 5:15
#"Place of Many Deaths" instrumental – 4:06
#"Beneath the Hollow" guitar solo – 0:23
#Guitar solo – 0:16
#"Praise the Strength" guitar solo – 0:16
#"God of Our Own Divinity" guitar solo – 0:36
#Guitar solo – 0:28
#Guitar solo – 0:24
#Guitar solo – 0:28
#Guitar solo – 0:38
#Guitar solo – 0:24
#Guitar solo – 0:30
#Guitar solo – 0:32
#Guitar solo – 0:38
Chart positions
Top Heatseekers: #27
Top Independent Albums: #28
Credits
★
Trey Azagthoth - guitars, vocals
★
Pete Sandoval - drums
★
Steve Tucker - bass guitar, vocals