VULGAR NECROLATRY / MISERY PATH

"Vulgar Necrolatry / Misery Path" is a single release by Finnish death metal act Amorphis. The single was released through Relapse Records in June 1991. It´s Amorphis first label release after forming in 1990 and releasing the "Disment of Soul" demo in 1991. It was not the "Disment of Soul" demo, which got Amorphis signed by Relapse Records though. The label had heard guitarist/vocalist Tomi Koivusaari´s former band Abhorrence´s February 1990 "Vulgar Necrolatry" demo, and they contacted Koivusaari to sign Abhorrence. They didn´t realise that Abhorrence at that point had broken up a while ago, but they also showed an interest in signing Amorphis (without having heard a single note from them), on the condition that Amorphis would record a cover of the "Vulgar Necrolatry" track and include it on this single.

So the single features a cover of "Vulgar Necrolatry" (featuring Abhorrence vocalist Jukka Kolehmainen on guest vocals) and the B-side track "Misery Path". Both are raw and old school Scandinavian styled death metal tracks and both are good quality songs, which are well written, well performed, and well produced. The tracks appear in the exact same versions on the December 1993 "Privilege of Evil" EP, which chronologically was Amorphis next recording (the remaining material on the EP was recorded at the same May 1991 session as the two tracks on this single), but because of label issues wasn´t released until after the release of their debut full-length studio album "The Karelian Isthmus" (Relapse Records, November 1992).

Both tracks were also re-recorded and included on "The Karelian Isthmus", although "Vulgar Necrolatry" only appears as a bonus track on the CD version of the original release (the original vinyl version does not include "Vulgar Necrolatry"). Upon conclusion this is a decent quality single from Amorphis, but to my ears the original Abhorrence version of "Vulgar Necrolatry" features a more morbid charm. "Misery Path" is decent quality death metal song too, but it´s not a standout track. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).