Scrolls of the Megilloth
| Scrolls of the Megilloth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 28 August 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Studio | Studio RBX in Melbourne, Australia | |||
| Genre | Death metal,[1] grindcore,[1] Christian metal | |||
| Length | 59:33 | |||
| Label | Intense, Nuclear Blast | |||
| Producer | Doug Saunders, Mortification | |||
| Mortification chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Jesus Freak Hideout |   [2] |
Scrolls of the Megilloth is the second studio album by Australian Christian extreme metal band Mortification. The band's most famous release, this album is full-on death metal, with the thrash metal roots barely showing, and possibly their most extreme album to date. According to AllMusic, the album "garnered the band some attention from the heavy metal underground" and contains "some of the most frightening vocals ever recorded."[3] In 2010, HM Magazine ranked Scrolls of the Megilloth number 17 on the Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time list with Van Pelt stating that "Though the band has been living it down ever since, this album raised the standard of Christian grindcore to almost unattainable levels."[4]
Several reissues of Scrolls of the Megilloth have been released on various record labels. It was bundled with Mortification's 1993 album Post Momentary Affliction on Nuclear Blast and included two live bonus tracks, releasing on 18 November 1996. A bundle that contained Scrolls of the Megilloth and Mortification's self-titled debut studio album was released on KMG Records in 1998 and on Rowe Productions in 2015, with the latter being exclusively on cassette. A reissue was released on Metal Mind Productions in 2008 and included three live bonus tracks. Reissues were released on Soundmass Records in 2005 and 2020, with the former having four demo tracks recorded on 7 December 1991 and the latter having three live tracks recorded in 1992.
Recording[]
Scrolls of the Megilloth was recorded at Studio RBX, Richmond, Melbourne, and mixed at Toybox Studios, Northcote, Melbourne. The album was produced by Doug Saunders. Mortification's line-up consisted of the bassist-vocalist Steve Rowe, guitarist Michael Carlisle, and drummer Jayson Sherlock. Both Carlisle and Sherlock did some background vocals, and Sherlock played lead guitar on the last song "Ancient Prophecy" because Carlisle was a more experienced rhythm guitarist than lead guitarist, therefore the album does not contain guitar solos.[5]
Music[]
Scrolls of the Megilloth begins with the intro of the song "Nocturnal", consisting noises of the night from chirring crickets to croaking frogs, creating a dark cult horror movie atmosphere. An ominous drum beat slowly becomes louder, accompanied by a drop D tuned guitar riff, turns into a chaotic speed as the vocals by Steve Rowe growl the words "Nocturnal/Creatures of the night" with the word "Creatures" sung in a frightening shrieking voice. After this the album continues on the grindcore influenced death metal direction, reminiscent of the British bands Bolt Thrower, Carcass, and Napalm Death. A mostly up-tempo album, the songs "Raise the Chalice" and the epic "Ancient Prophecy" take a more mid-tempo approach. Scrolls of the Megilloth is characterized by Jayson Sherlock's odd and fast blast beat drumming, Michael Carlisle's aggressive but precise rhythm guitar work, Steve Rowe's double layered "grind baritone vocals of extreme reality", and high tuned, apparent, and groovy bass guitar playing. Rowe's vocals get extremely guttural on a verse on the song "Ancient Prophecy" that cites a prophecy of King James Version of Isaiah 53:5. The album's title track, "Scrolls of the Megilloth", which begins with a haunting organ melody before turning into a chaotic tune, is one of the best known songs on the album and was released as a single. "Death Requiem" contains a gloomy speaking voice interpreting a funeral event.
Lyrics and themes[]
The lyrics on Scrolls of the Megilloth are as extreme as the music, dealing with the common themes of death metal such as death, horror, occultism, and violence from a Christian point of view: "Terminate Damnation" is about spiritual warfare against evil and moral impurity; "Eternal Lamentation" has the ungodly screaming in agony in the fiery pits of hell, and "Necromanicide" warns against communicating with the deceased through spiritism because "only demons answer their call". The title "Scrolls of the Megilloth" is a term in the Old Testament that means The Five Scrolls (Five Megillot): Ruth, Esther, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and Ecclesiastes. The song deals with the purposes of these books. According to the album liner notes, Steve Rowe studied at a Bible college a year before the album was recorded and he learned that these books were read at feasts and celebrations of significant Jewish dates. Rowe writes: "When we read 2 Timothy 3:16 we realised that all scriptures are there for a purpose and should all be studied to guide us."[6]
Track listing[]
All tracks are written by Mortification.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nocturnal" | Steve Rowe | Rowe | 6:10 |
| 2. | "Terminate Damnation" | Jayson Sherlock | Sherlock | 6:18 |
| 3. | "Eternal Lamentation" | Michael Carlisle | Carlisle | 6:29 |
| 4. | "Raise the Chalice" | Rowe | Rowe | 4:47 |
| 5. | "Lymphosarcoma" | Rowe |
| 6:04 |
| 6. | "Scrolls of the Megilloth" | Rowe | Rowe | 4:28 |
| 7. | "Death Requiem" | Carlisle | Carlisle | 5:10 |
| 8. | "Necromanicide" | Sherlock | Sherlock | 4:58 |
| 9. | "Inflamed" | Carlisle | Carlisle | 3:26 |
| 10. | "Ancient Prophecy[a]" | Sherlock | Sherlock | 11:43 |
| Total length: | 59:33 | |||
- a Song not included on the 2015 cassette reissue.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Brutal Warfare (Live)" | 4:14 |
| 12. | "Time Crusaders (Live)" | 4:52 |
| Total length: | 68:39 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Terminate Damnation (Demo)" | 6:07 |
| 12. | "Lymphosarcoma (Demo)" | 6:02 |
| 13. | "Necromanicide (Demo)" | 4:24 |
| 14. | "Scrolls of the Megilloth (Demo)" | 3:08 |
| Total length: | 79:14 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Time Crusaders (Live)" | 5:54 |
| 12. | "Inflamed (Live)" | 3:38 |
| 13. | "The Destroyer Beholds (Live)" | 3:27 |
| Total length: | 72:32 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Terminate Damnation (Live 1992)" | 6:21 |
| 12. | "Eternal Lamentation (Live 1992)" | 6:28 |
| 13. | "Necromanicide (Live 1992)" | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 76:51 | |
Credits[]
Mortification
- Steve Rowe - bass guitar, vocals
- Michael Carlisle - guitar, backing vocalist
- Jayson Sherlock - drums, backing vocalist, lead guitar on "Ancient Prophecy"
Additional musicians
- Roger Martinez - backing vocalist
- Andrew Tompkins - backing vocalist
Production
- Doug Saunders – producer
- Mortification – producer
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Russell, George (1 February 1997). "Mortification: A matter of life and death". Cross Rhythms Magazine #37. Cross Rhythms Radio. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ "Mortification, "Scrolls of the Megilloth" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Dombek, Kirk. "Mortification". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ Heaven's Metal Staff (6 September 2010). "Top 100 Christian Metal Albums of All Time". HM Magazine. Noise Creep. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ "Mortification - Scrolls of the Megilloth". Guitar 6. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
- ^ Rowe, Steve. Scrolls of the Megilloth (booklet). 2005 reissue. Soundmass. Consulted 19 December 2007.
Authority control  |
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- Mortification (band) albums
- 1992 albums