Liberate the Unborn Inhumanity

Liberate the Unborn Inhumanity is the eighth album from Mors Principium Est and if you heard their last one, Seven, you'll have a good starting point for what to expect on this one. Melodic Death Metal is the foundation, and this band has never shied away from playing true to that and embracing outright power metal elements into their sound. Songs like "Finality," "Valley of Sacrifice, Part 1 & 2" and "The Unborn" revel in sharp, frenetic drumming, a cutting guitar sound and harsh, but not too harsh vocals. Keyboards are present but always in a supportive role, never the focus, and there are lots of neoclassical solos this time around. I might not remember (I listen to a lot of metal) but this is the first time I can recall Mors Principium Est bringing in female vocals (on "Pure") and combining them with the male singing to come up with a top-notch gothic/symphonic, "beauty and the beast" number. The music is very melodic and goes down smoothly and the album sounds fantastic, but I'd say the songwriting is pretty standard for this band. That means if you've heard prior releases, Liberate the Unborn Inhumanity is going to sound familiar. So, while not breaking new ground or executed at the level of say, Embers of a Dying World, Liberate the Unborn Inhumanity is an enjoyable record, especially if you are already a fan of the band and a great place to start if you are not a fan of death metal and want to dip a toe into the pool.