Kingdoms Disdained

Kingdoms Disdained is the ninth studio album by American death metal band Morbid Angel, which was released on December 1, 2017 by Silver Lining Music.[1][2] It is the first album since 2003's Heretic to feature Steve Tucker and the introduction of Annihilated drummer Scott Fuller.[3][4] It is also the first to not feature David Vincent, Destructhor and Tim Yeung since 2011's Illud Divinum Insanus, as all three members left the band in 2015.[5][6][7] A music video was made for "Garden of Disdain".[8]

Kingdoms Disdained
Studio album by Morbid Angel
Released	December 1, 2017 (2017-12-01)
Recorded	2017
Studio	Mana Recording Studios, St. Petersburg, Florida
Genre	Death metal
Length	47:43
Label	Silver Lining Music JVC/Victor (Japan)
Producer	Erik Rutan
Morbid Angel chronology
Illud Divinum Insanus (2011) Kingdoms Disdained (2017)

Background

On August 3, 2016, Morbid Angel originally signed to UDR Music and was at work on a new studio album, which would be released in 2017 and a tour to take place that year.[9] They later signed on officially to Silver Lining Music as a result.[10] In March 2017, Tucker said that the album would be a "death metal album".[11] On the opening night of the band's early summer U.S. tour, the song originally titled "Warped", later named "Paradigms Warped", was performed for the first time.[12] The cover artwork was first unveiled on October 5,[13] along with two tracks following thereafter.[14][15]

Album information

The album's title refers to the current aural document of a world sinking into uncharted despair, as explained by Tucker. He also says that the artwork "is a fair image of the world today, but taken from a different perspective; the perspective of those Gods who built this, who may be resting now but are starting to wake up."[16] In addition to Tucker's take on the album's title, Trey Azagthoth told Revolver that it references the 1980s animated cartoon Thundarr the Barbarian.[17]

When talking about the album, Tucker says that it has "a big, grandiose vibe that sort of becomes a little larger than life. That's really what I like most about the album myself. I think what stands out about it, is that even though it's really raw and nasty, it's kind of timely as well. I think it fits into what is going on in the world today."[18]

Recording and writing

When talking about the making of the album, Tucker explains, "The first thing Trey said to me was, 'I want to make killer music with killer people.' To go into any more detail than that, honestly, I don't even remember, but it was really just about, 'Hey, man, I want this to be MORBID ANGEL. I don't want this to be what it was being changed to be.' I told Trey my first question was always musical direction. Any time it involves playing music, that's got to be the first question. Everything Trey said to me and all the discussions we had made me very comfortable that Trey had every intention on doing the kind of album that MORBID ANGEL fans expect and that I, personally, feel. To do anything else, I don't feel it, and, to be honest with you, it's not going to be great by any means if I'm trying to do something that, to me, is fake. I think the thing is the same about Trey. Trey's a very focused and singular-focused person when it comes to music. I think he knew exactly what he wanted. He knew that I was the right guy to give him what he wanted out of this album." Tucker, Azagthoth and Fuller contributed to the songwriting and the inspiration of the lyrics come from "social events that are occurring through time, repeatedly" and "from always a third-person perspective. They're definitely always from the eyes of someone who is neutral. They are an observation more than anything."[19]

Critical reception

Album reviews

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Blabbermouth	9.5/10[20]
Cryptic Rock	[21]
Decibel	7/10[22]
Distorted Sound	8/10[23]
Exclaim!	8/10[24]
Metal Hammer	[25]
Metal Storm	6/10[26]
Sputnikmusic	[27]
ToiletOvHell	[28]
Pitchfork	7.3/10[29]
Metal Storm	6.0/10[30]

Kingdoms Disdained received generally positive reception, with critics praising the album as a return to form after the band's controversial past affair Illud Divinum Insanus. Critics have noted that it represents a pivot away from the industrial-influenced style of their previous album, and a return to the more traditional death metal approach of Formulas Fatal to the Flesh and Heretic. Exclaim! praised returning vocalist/bassist Steve Tucker's performance on the album, and cited guitarist Trey Azagthoth's performance as "the main highlight of the album, as they showcase all of the familiar crushing heaviness and forward-thinking technical intricacies that make him an impeccable songwriter." Pitchfork said that the album "sets the band back on course", arguing that it benefits from the return of a much more traditional death metal sound. Metal Hammer described the album as "streamlined, grandiose and utterly complete", singling out Azagthoth for particular praise, arguing that "no one wields the demonic spirit of death metal with anywhere near the same sense of power and mastery."

Sputnikmusic criticized Kingdoms Disdained for dragging in the second half as "too many tracks drag the album down and too few highlights to pick it up." They argued that the "problem songs all tend to be the longest and most repetitive, full of forays into slow, chuggy passages (suspiciously deathcore like at times even) and often lacking Azagthoth’s legendary solos. Conversely the best songs (see the opening handful and a few highlights in the back half like “For No Master”) are usually sharp, concise, and high tempo riff fests", while also suggesting that the album lacked the distinctive personality of the band's previous records. Decibel wrote that "beneath the horns is a no-compromise sound that works hard to reinvent the halcyon moments on Formulas Fatal to the Flesh and Heretic", though they criticized the album for a lack of diversity amongst the songs, concluding that "minds won't be blown, but merely sated."

Accolades

Award	Publication	Ranking	Source
20 Best Albums of 2017	Revolver	14	[31]
20 Best Metal Albums of 2017	Rolling Stone	9	[32]
The Best Metal Albums of 2017	The Quietus	19	[33]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Steve Tucker; all music is composed by Trey Azagthoth, except where noted.

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Piles of Little Arms"		3:44
2.	"D.E.A.D. [Department of Eradication and Disposal]"		3:01
3.	"Garden of Disdain"		4:25
4.	"The Righteous Voice"	Tucker, Scott Fuller	5:03
5.	"Architect and Iconoclast"		5:44
6.	"Paradigms Warped"		3:59
7.	"The Pillars Crumbling"		5:06
8.	"For No Master"	Tucker, Fuller	3:29
9.	"Declaring New Law (Secret Hell)"		4:21
10.	"From the Hand of Kings"	Tucker, Fuller	4:02
11.	"The Fall of Idols"		4:49
Total length:			47:43

A 2-CD release contains an EP titled Complete Acid Terror, featuring instrumental demos.[34] Also contained on the limited edition 6 7" vinyl boxed set and released on standard format

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Piles of Little Arms" (Demo, Instrumental)	3:47
2.	"Battlebots" (D.E.A.D. (Department of Eradication and Disposal) Demo, Instrumental)	3:01
3.	"Sludge Creeper" (Garden of Disdain Demo, Instrumental)	4:26
4.	"Acid Crusher" (Architect and Iconoclast Demo, Instrumental)	5:44
5.	"7 String Swing" (The Pillars Crumbling Demo, Instrumental)	5:06
6.	"Warped" (Paradigms Warped Demo, Instrumental)	3:57
7.	"Secret Hell" (Declaring New Law (Secret Hell) Demo, Instrumental)	4:18
Total length:		30:19

Personnel

Morbid Angel

• Steve Tucker – bass, vocals
• Trey Azagthoth – guitars
• Scott Fuller – drums

Additional musician

• Dan Vadim Von – lead guitar on "Declaring New Law (Secret Hell)"

Production

• Morbid Angel – production
• Erik Rutan – production, engineering, mixing
• Alan Douches – mastering
• Ken Coleman – artwork
• Charlene Tupper – photography

Charts

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35]	111
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[36]	159
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[37]	31
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38]	93

References

1. "MORBID ANGEL To Release 'Kingdoms Disdained' Album In December; Cover Artwork Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
2. "Listen To New MORBID ANGEL Song 'Piles Of Little Arms'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
3. "Morbid Angel Parts Ways With David Vincent, Reunites With Steve Tucker". Blabbermouth.net. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
4. "Trey Azagthoth Announces New Morbid Angel Drummer, Gives Album Update". Loudwire. January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
5. "It's Official: Drummer Tim Yeung Exits Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
6. "MORBID ANGEL Parts Ways With Guitarist DESTRUCTHOR". June 18, 2015.
7. "David Vincent Encourages Fans To Stay Morbid". memberemail.com. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
8. "MORBID ANGEL: 'Garden Of Disdain' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
9. "Morbid Angel to Release New Album + Tour in 2017, Sign With UDR Music". Loudwire.com. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
10. http://sl-music.net/en/60-news-udr/734-morbid-angel-sign-with-udr-music-en
11. "MORBID ANGEL Frontman Says Upcoming Record Will Definitely Be 'A Death Metal Album'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
12. "MORBID ANGEL Performs New Song 'Warped' Live For First Time (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
13. "MORBID ANGEL To Release 'Kingdoms Disdained' Album In December; Cover Artwork Unveiled". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
14. "Listen To New MORBID ANGEL Song 'Piles Of Little Arms'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
15. "Morbid Angel Premiere New Song "For No Master" From Upcoming New Album "Kingdoms Disdained"". Metal Underground. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
16. "MORBID ANGEL: More 'Kingdoms Disdained' Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
17. "Morbid Angel's Trey Azagthoth on Complete New "Acid and Terror" Album With Steve Tucker". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
18. "MORBID ANGEL's STEVE TUCKER Says There Is A 'Big, Grandiose Vibe' To 'Kingdoms Disdained'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
19. "STEVE TUCKER Says MORBID ANGEL Kept Things Honest And Pure During Making Of 'Kingdoms Disdained'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
20. Gorania, Jay H. (December 2017). "CD Reviews - Kingdoms Disdained Morbid Angel - Blabbermouth.net". Blabbermouth. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
21. Burke, Lisa (November 30, 2017). "MORBID ANGEL – KINGDOMS DISDAINED (ALBUM REVIEW)". Cryptic Rock. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
22. Dick, Chris (January 2018). "Decibel - New Noise Record Reviews". Decibel. No. 159. Alex Mulcahy. p. 70. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
23. Wilson, Fraser (January 2018). "Morbid Angel: Kingdoms Disdained". Distorted Sound (32): 70. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
24. Falzon, Denise (November 28, 2017). "Morbid Angel Kingdoms Disdained". Ian Danzig. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
25. Lawson, Dom (December 8, 2017). "Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained album review". Metal Hammer. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
26. nikarg. "Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained review". Metal Storm. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
27. "Review: Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained - Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
28. Hoff, Mosh (November 14, 2017). "REVIEW: MORBID ANGEL – KINGDOMS DISDAINED". ToiletOvHell. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
29. O'Connor, Andy (December 7, 2017). "Morbid Angel Kingdoms Disdained Album review - Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
30. "Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
31. "20 Best Albums of 2017". Revolver. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
32. "20 Best Metal Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-12-10.
33. "The Quietus | Features | Quietus Charts | Columnus Metallicus: The Best Metal Albums Of 2017". The Quietus. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
34. "MORBID ANGEL's 'Kingdoms Disdained' Released As Two-Disc Digipack Featuring Demo Recordings". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
35. "Ultratop.be – Morbid Angel – Kingdoms Disdained" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
36. "Ultratop.be – Morbid Angel – Kingdoms Disdained" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
37. "Morbid Angel: Kingdoms Disdained" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
38. "Offiziellecharts.de – Morbid Angel – Kingdoms Disdained" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 8, 2017.