Maleficium

This album is considered as magnum opus of Morgana Lefay. At that time (the second half of the nineties) when all classic forms of metal were aloof, the career of these power thrash Swedes was fresh and unforgettable. I read only very good and enthusiastic reviews. That’s true, the first feeling was positive at least, but in process of time all my considerations join into one phrase: this is the weakest album with Charles Rytkönen on vocals. Before listening to this album I was wondering if Morgana Lefay was able to record a better album than “Sanctified” – the best effort of the band for me.

The front cover looks really awesomely, Necrolord did a fine piece of work once again. It perfectly fits to the lyrics about inquisition and medieval dark times. Of course this picture has nothing to do about the marking of “Maleficium”, I wrote about it as the weakest thing, but wait, Swedes didn’t record a shit album! The production of Ulf Peterson is powerful and it looks like a forceful wall of sound, I recognize this band after the first seconds of “The Source Of Pain”, so here everything is just great. The music also isn’t surprise, but I don’t call it as continuation of “Sanctified”. This time musicians emphasized on simple yet quite melodious songs and this is the main difference as compared with the previous album. After short ominous intro, “The Source Of Pain” attacks the silence. This is simply glaring example of Morgana Lefay style: not so fast with mid paced tempo, fine guitar works and devastating riffs supported by rhythm section and of course vocals – unique Charles Rytkönen. The next song “Victim Of The Inquisition” is even better in my opinion due to quasi-balladic beginning and extremely hard chorus with heavy guitars – this combination perfectly fits here: excellent melody and demonic vocals in chorus (“Who’s satanical?”). I can say that this song is one of the best performances of these Swedes in their career. The third song “Madness” reminds me Candlemass a bit, but here we have this incredible heaviness with beautiful fragment starting with “...I’m laughing at God…” in the middle of the song. Then we have some speed ups and interesting guitar leads. The next two songs are total contrary: “A Final Farewell” is the ballad (it definitely keeps high level of the previous ballads from the past like “Alley Of Oaks”, “Why?”) and “Maleficium” is the strongest song on the album, just like road roller crushing listener’s bones – extremely good work! Yes, and with the last seconds of the title track good things end here. Why? It’s hard to explain, even after all these years. To say my point, the second part of “Maleficium” (six songs) is completely faceless and simply weak, except for two ‘songs’ “It” which is in fact ninety seconds Rytkönen recitation and acoustic outro “Nemesis”. Maybe one of these songs “The Devil In Me” is worthy of listening, maybe… Here the Swedes can’t create atmosphere, metal feelings, good music just like on the first part. It seems like they gave a chance some poor and lame friends to record some songs on the album. Of course, they failed.

So, in my opinion it is very strange album: from greatness to music disaster. From “The Source Of Pain” to the real sonic calamity “Creatures Of The Hierarchy” (especially hopeless riffs and the chorus…). This album had to be some breakthrough for the band in positive meaning, but at the end of the day, it became a beginning of the end. In spite of this I really like this album, of course first six tracks, the rest should be shrouded in silence. The great times of first four albums has gone almost irrevocably. I wrote ‘almost’ because Swedes recorded later some good albums. Unfortunately only good albums…

Morgana Lefay isn't the typical power metal band, having ridicously high-pitched vocals, fast riffing, guitar melodies and double bass drum that will drill your head until it reaches your brain and leaves you in a coma. Being a genre many have claimed to have stagnated and become stale, I bet they haven't listened to Morgana Lefay's work, which doesn't lack any pound of originality or creativity.

Now lets get into the album, shall we?

'Maleficium' starts with an interesting intro, setting a completely dark atmoshpere for what it is to come. Not only the gloomy sound sets up an unusual feeling, but the screams within the track can awaken some creepy and dark thoughts. Past this lies screamy and creepy intro, lies beyond one hell of an opener, 'The Source Of Pain'. It has one of the best choruses the whole album, with excelent guitar riffing, great drumming and incredible crazy ass vocals courtesy of Charles Rytkönen. A voice that many have acknowledged as one of the best within this genre, but as much as I love Charle's vocals, I will have to differ. It is a love or hate thing, his voice has so many ranges, yet is so rough it may not appeal to everyone, but I'll be damned if his voice doesn't fit his music, or even this whole album. Just listen to 'Madness', a quite disjointed song in the album. Literally it is pure madness and Charle's vocals essential in the song, without them it wouldn't have the same effect in the listener as well as the strange riffing style, weird melody and original, yet sometimes tiring drum pattern. 'Madness' succeeds to be one hell of a track, specially after you have heard 'Victim of the Inquisition'.

So far, so dark. Until we reach the balladish song 'A Final Farewell'. Nothing to do with the mood that was progressing since the beginning of this album, but it isn't a mood breaker either. Slowish tempo, sets up an interesting atmosphere before we carry on to 'Maleficium', the best track of the whole album. Starts with some insane groovish riffing until we progress more and more into the song, revealing great and interesting drumming, incredible vocals and a hellish choir you may end up falling in love with. The main riff in this song is so damn catchy it will make you tap your foot and move your head while you listen to it. It is all pure evil, and I love it!

Other great songs within this record are the thrashy 'Dragon's Lair' and 'Master of the Masquerade', starting with heavy riffing and great rythm. Ideal to headbang your head until the vocals kick in. You know, those crazy signature vocals Charles is capable of doing. However, this song features a more intense thrashy riffing, making it quite appealing, although it can get pretty repetitive at times, all the elements in this song work together perfectly, never end up being boring or dull.

However, not everything is gold in this album. 'It' is just dull and a mood killer, short and out of place, while 'The Devil In Me' is a borefest. Boring riffs, boring vocals, boring lyrics. Hell, why did they even decided to record it? It is 6 minutes of absolute nonsense and boredom, everything just drags, on and on, and on... You end up reaching a breaking point when you just want to send this to obliveon and never listen to it again. But if you do not want to skip it and decide to endure the whole song, be my guest. You might as well take a 6 minute nap and recover for the next song, that will awaken your senses entirely.

Finishing off the album. lies 'Creatures of Hierarchy' a personal favourite of mine. It is the most catchy song in the album, featuring a nice melody that will stick to your head for a while. Don't try to fight it, just embrace it and enjoy. This doesn't end here, but with the outro 'Nemesis', which only features an enjoyable and mellow guitar melody, ideal to finish this strange and dark masterpiece.

In the end, this isn't your typical power metal album, neither your typical power metal band. Do you think the genre has stagnated? That it has become stale? This album is the proof power metal can take many forms and shapes when you actually try to make interesting music. All the dark elements works great together, making interesting and incredible music. I invite you to give this album a try, and I can almost guarantee you will be a very pleased metalhead. Why? It is a concept album about the Inquisition with killer music. What more can you ask for?

In the short list of the all time best concept albums you will never find this album. On the short list of the greatest power metal bands of our day you’ll never find this band. For the life of me I’ll never understand either of those truths. This album stands as a testament to greatness, for the band and for the genre.

Morgana Lefay’s “Maleficium” is monument to power, to epic songwriting and fierce aggression, three things attempted and failed at so often in power metal. This album is, quite simply, monstrous.

Coming directly after the previous year’s Sanctified, which was a very immediate album, ML chose to switch gears and see just how far they could stretch their limits. The result is one heck of a great album for fans of the darker side of heavy metal. It opens up, after a short intro, with a fantastic opener in The Source of Pain. The song is instantly aggressive, driven forth by a pounding rhythm, a trademark of the band. The chorus is huge, choir backed and the middle section is one of the highlights of the album. The solo section on this song is something that has to be heard to be believed. The best part about such an awesome intro is you’ve only just begun! The album all at once has a drive and pulse to it where slower brooding songs alternate with balls out thrashers and doomy epics. The guitar sound and recording add punch and grit at every step to make this album one of the heaviest the genre has ever seen. Thank goodness they’ve got a singer with pipes to match!

I don’t think this band would be anywhere near their level without the charismatic Charles Rytkonen (second satan to Jon Oliva) behind the mic. Where most every song is filled with ultra heavy riffs and shredding solos it’s the vocals and infectious catchy choruses that bring them over the top. His raspy, powerful vocals carry many of these tunes and the gritty highs he hits on a couple tracks kick my butt time after time. Like the band themselves he’s one of the best kept secrets in power/heavy metal.

When it comes down to it, top to bottom this album sucks you in, beats you into submission, and for as awesome as the story is, the lyrics never get in the way. The description the band have for themselves couldn’t say it any better, “Dark power metal with balls” and this album couldn’t testify anymore to how much that can rule!

The highlights: the thrash trinity of Master of the Masquerade, Witches Garden, and The Dragon’s Lair, the doom-laden Madness and fantastic build-up of Victim of the Inquisition.

I think this album proves that all power metal doesn't have to be cheesy. This album has a few slow moments that can be categorized as cheesy, but a majority of the material here is aggressive and rough. And although it's a little harder than the music that many other power metal bands produce, there is still a distinct vein of power'ish sound in here.

The album is mainly about a man falling victim for the inquisition and the events that unfold. Some of the songs are written as letters, while another is set during a questioning (see "torture"). There are a few tracks that are free-standing from the main storyline, but not as many as you'd think. Even some of the ones that at first glance seem like they aren't related to the theme of the album still have something to do with the storyline.

This album has very prominent drumming, like many other Morgana Lefay-releases. This album starts to move away from the chugging drumsound, though, and is leaning more towards guitars and riffing. And of course more towards Charles Rytkönen and his magnificent vocals. He really is one of the genres better singers, if you ask me. He has many different ranges, he can do the power-howling and a few seconds later slow down and sound gratingly evil. We see evidence of this throughout this whole album.
The album has it's strong points and it's weak points. The strong points are a distinct majority, with songs like Master of the Masquerade, Madness, Dragons Lair (this one could almost belong on a thrash-album) and the titletrack Maleficium. A few of the weaker moments are "It", which is mostly a guitar playing in the background and Rytkönen talking. Which is lame. And also "A Final Farewell" which is a little too thin and cheesy.

So if you want to hear a little more aggressive power metal with a great vocalist and a interesting story, you should check this out.