Time Signature
Metalled Harlequin...
Genre: melodic death metal
There had been a lot of changes in the world of Morfeus since their preceding release, the demo-tape "Where No Dreams Reach". Their first demo tape was a doom metal release, and at that time Morfeus were one of the few doom metal acts in Denmark. With "Thorned Harlequin", the style is completely different - very much owing to line-up changes - and falls under the rubric of melodic death metal along the lines of At The Gates, early In Flames, Arch Enemy and "Heartwork"-era Carcass.
The Two first tracks on this release are very catchy and very well written with a lot of thrashy parts and even some references to traditional heavy metal, and they are, of course, also very melodic (following minor scale patterns). The last track is a bit weaker and not too memorable.
The production is not too polished, but not too dirty either. I think that the vocals are a bit too shrill; they are obviously inspired by the vocal style used in At The Gates, but they just do not have the same quality to them.
Anyway, this demo is a fine piece of melodeath, and, in my opinion, the band were already signingworthy back then. Recommendable to fans of melodic death metal.