UMUR
"Total Hideous Death" is a live demo by US, Florida based death metal act Morbid Angel. The demo was released on cassette tape in June 1986. It features a live show recorded at the Metal Mania Festival on the 25th of May, 1986 at Rock City, Tampa, Florida. An amateur video of the event also exists. While "Total Hideous Death" is an official live demo tape made and released by guitarist Trey Azagthoth, original copies only exists in a very limited number.
The demo features 11 tracks and a total playing time of 41:38 minutes. The show consists of 8 regular tracks and 3 guitar solos. "Maze of Torment" also feautures a drum solo. Morbid Angel plays through early versions of tracks like "Unholy Blasphemies", "Chapel of Ghouls", and "Lord of All Fevers and Plague" with great intensity and skill. Drummer/Lead vocalist Mike Browning has a screaming growling delivery which suits the savage nature of the music well. This is pretty extreme for 1986, with fast-paced sharp guitar work, pounding drums, and blistering screaming leads.
Upon conclusion it´s audible that "Total Hideous Death" is an amateur live demo recording. It´s murky, noisy, and raw, but it´s still charming and authentic, showing an early, energetic, and intense Morbid Angel live show. People watching this show must have thought that it was some of the most extreme music they had ever heard. A 2 - 2.5 star (45%) rating is warranted.