Domination
On Domination, Morbid Angel often favour riffs with a firm, heavy movement over a constant rush of speed. The result carries a noticeably different weight. The guitar parts remain technical and restless, but there is more room to follow the movement of an individual riff.
Where the Slime Live benefits most from that approach. Its slow, heavy guitar figure is immediately recognisable, and the strange effect on David Vincent's voice adds an unpleasant atmosphere. Repetition strengthens the mood here. A more melodic solo creates movement without removing the lumbering character that makes the song effective.
The opening Dominate makes clear that the band can still attack at speed. Sharp rhythms and busy drums offer a useful contrast to the slower material. Dawn of the Angry also finds a convincing combination of strong riffs, tempo changes and carefully developed solos. The guitars have enough ideas to do more than simply keep up with the drums.
Pete Sandoval remains an important driving force. His double-bass work brings considerable activity even to passages at a lower tempo. The album rarely sounds casual as a result. The musicians can let a riff work for longer without draining all the movement from the song.
That approach does not succeed equally everywhere. Vincent's delivery changes relatively little, and some songs lack the strong individual character of the highlights. The dense production also leaves little room for the bass. Short interludes interrupt the flow more than they contribute to it.
Domination is an uneven record, but its best songs fully justify the change in approach. The stronger emphasis on rhythm makes the music easier to grasp without losing its weight. When that movement meets distinctive guitar playing, Morbid Angel remain highly convincing.
