While country mates Brutally Deceased certainly have stolen Morbider’s thunder in the genre with two albums in that time span, Morbider show that are back in the fray with these 4 tracks. Big,Sunlight sounding  mid range guitars and dashes of galloping melody imbue classic Entombed/Dismember, and the song writing is as strong as the guitar tone. It’s not quite as beefy and bludgeoning as their more Grave inspired country mates, having a little more emphasis on leads and pacing, as evidenced by the classic Left Hand Path vibe of second track, the 6 minute “No More Life” and “Redemption” (with a immediately noticeable nod to Dismember’s “Override of the Overture”) . However, the standout is “God of Torment” opening with a killer, classic Stockholm riff, that many of the current top tier  revival bands, even the likes of Blood Mortized and Entrails, would nod in approval of. And if anything, these 4 tracks show, if Morbider can be a little more productive, they are indeed in the same conversation as those bands.

As far as Athen’s Abyssus, this is my first  time hearing them, despite a collection of 5 splits and EPs since 2012, and you cant help feel they were pulled from a hat to fill out Morbider’s return to the fray. Not that their 5 tracks are chopped liver, and they at least went with a band that has a complimentary sound, being a dusty., musty old school death metal, with a slight but more raw, classic Swedish gait and sound mingled with early Death and Autopsy. However, it’s pretty forgetful if energetic and authentic sounding with throaty thrash vocals over a twangy bass and sturdy cantering riffs. The likes of ‘”Summon the Dead” “Remnants of War” and even a cover of Sodom’s “Outbreak of Evil” are simple and acceptable, but would have preferred Morbider render this split with a more like minded band or another Czech band.

Either way, its good to see lone Morbider member Dan get things going again, and I hope he can keep it going, as the material sounds very promising.