Extrinsic Pathway

This is the debut from Texas-based Morgengrau, the latest home of the nomadic metal goddess Erika Swinnich, who once sang angelically for darkwave icons Autumn Tears, then wailed like Halford for Ignitor, and now bellows like a full-on demon and plays guitar for her very own Death Metal band.

Morgengrau impress by not being all about blasting and flailing, but with a solid, riff-based and structured approach to their songwriting, with some rather Slayeriffic riffs. As a growler, Erika is a lower-pitched animal than I expected from her earlier vocal gigs, sounding not a million miles removed from Tom Angelripper or Martin Van Drunen. This album has less technicality and maybe a bit less heaviness than I expected, but it has a lot more catchiness and atmosphere. A worthy debut.