| With The Devil Speaks in Tongues, Mortem delivered one of the most unwavering and authentic statements in South American death metal. A blazing testament to their long-standing commitment to diabolic extremity, this 1998 full-length sees the Peruvian legends sharpen their craft into a savage, riff-drenched assault that channels both the spirit of early death metal and the infernal essence of their own South American roots.
Drawing heavily from their formative years, many of the album’s tracks were written in the late '80s, and it shows—not in a dated sense, but in the way they pulse with that same untamed energy found on proto-death classics like Seven Churches or Hell Awaits. Mortem was never a band to follow trends or soften with time; rather, The Devil Speaks in Tongues sounds like a band determined to document their origins properly, wielding new production power without dulling the edge of their early compositions.
Nebiros commands the mic with one of his finest performances, striking a perfect balance between demonic rasp and clarity. His voice drips venom yet maintains articulation, pushing the occult themes forward with conviction. Lyrically, the album ventures into realms of witchcraft, possession, and myth, with tracks like “Uma, Head of the Witch” and “Demons Haunt Loudun” grounding their blasphemous narratives in historical and cultural context—far beyond typical death metal tropes.
Guitarists Nebiros and Jaime García deliver a blizzard of riffs and solos, not merely filling space but creating structure and storytelling through melody and dissonance. Harmonized leads, breakneck thrash passages, and eerie tremolo lines give the album its trademark character, while cuts like “Fiat Obscuritas” and “Posthumous Magic” showcase their remarkable ability to balance ferocity with memorable songwriting.
The production, while occasionally marred by an overly clicky triggered kick drum, still allows the power of the performances to shine through. The guitars roar, the bass growls with intent, and the drums—performed solely by Jaime García on this record—strike with forceful precision and tasteful restraint. The band wisely avoids overused blastbeats in favor of pacing that builds drama and intensity.
One of the album’s most admirable qualities is how tightly composed it feels. There’s no filler, no unnecessary interludes—just twelve tracks of razor-sharp, satanic death metal. Even the Sacrifice cover “Turn in Your Grave,” while stylistically a slight outlier, is executed with such vigor that it feels like a fitting tribute rather than a detour.
The Devil Speaks in Tongues isn’t just a great album—it’s a crystallization of Mortem’s mission: to honor the early years of death metal while forging their own path in darkness. For anyone seeking a no-compromise blend of occult themes, vintage aggression, and sharp musicianship, this album remains a peak in Mortem’s discography and a crown jewel of Latin American extreme metal.
A monument to death, decay, and undying metal devotion.
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