Media in the modern age tends to cater to the nostalgia of audiences that crave elements that made their old favorite things so special to them, but a critically acclaimed work will have to evolve what's familiar in order for crowds to accept it as a relevant addition to the oversaturated world of media. Especially in music, there are many gray areas and fine lines that artists have to be careful about, as the slightest misstep could be lethal to the craft. Some acts will spend all of their time creating the right atmosphere, and they'll neglect to write actual good songs, but sometimes the right group of musicians will come together in a way that allows them to develop their style and songwriting skills to raise the bar of an entire genre.
In a style of music that had, in many ways, stagnated by the 2000s, the slow re-emergence of brilliance in Death Metal has been warmly welcomed. I've heard different approaches to this wave of old school revival that's been gradually building over the course of the past ten years; from clean, crisp and compressed to filthy, raw and unrelenting. Nashville's Mortius plays an uncompromising middle ground between the two that calls back to the recordings of Morrisound in the late 80s and early 90s, without being too out of touch to take notes from some newer acts like Cerebral Rot and Scorched.
Having recently performed alongside Bell Witch at the historic Exit / In, Mortius is making a name for themselves, and this EP is the release that solidifies that name as a powerhouse in the Death Metal underground. Seldom a band to say no to the opportunity to perform, Mortius' craft has been endlessly rehearsed and refined at a pace that the majority of underground acts are unable to compete with. Only a year and a half since the release of the debut full-length, and the evolution here is truly overwhelming, despite the excellent songwriting and performances that were undeniably present on the self-titled.
I'm going to cut straight to my overarching belief. Shepherding the Weak is among the all-time great Death Metal releases, despite its presence as, more or less, a demo tape at a length of three tracks, this is an instance in which every single second is put to valuable use. The looming aura of the menacing "Old Grave" develops and spirals itself into a stench of old school disgust, forming an oppressive atmosphere that refuses to sacrifice riff quality, a trade-off that's unfortunately too common in modern Death Metal. If you like your Metal with attitude, "Spitting Death" is the poster child. Supremely heavy Thrash / Death combine with a pummeling groove that doesn't let up for its entire four minutes. The EP closes with the title track, a crushing, fiery Death Metal song that cements the fact that Mortius isn't an average nostalgia band, and they don't intend to apologize for caving your skull in with their striking approach to the genre.
Death Metal has many forms, and it continues to grow and expand, but when the right musicians keep its roots in the proper place without stunting its growth, its terrifying sound is unmistakeable. Mortius is one of these acts that is able to prioritize and control their sound in a manner that the forefathers like Morbid Angel should be envious of in this era. The band has managed to put together a display that defines who they are as a unit; one that will forcefully grab your attention if you won't hand it over willingly. This sense of immediacy that's represented here is vital in an age that's become so jaded to art, but once you hit play, you won't be turning it off. If this reaches the right ears, it will be huge, so let it reach yours first. This is Death Metal, and this is Mortius.
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