A true gem of the Polish thrash/death metal underground, Destiny (1991) and Roots of Evil (1990) are powerful testaments to the raw intensity and creativity of the scene at the time. Available on CD for the first time ever, these long-lost masterpieces are finally given the attention they deserve. Uncompromising, dark, and utterly relentless—this release will blow your mind.
A compelling relic from the fertile but often overlooked early-'90s Polish death metal scene, Destiny by Mortal Slaughter is a strange and fascinating listen that continues to intrigue decades after its initial release. Often described as a demo due to its cassette-only format and underground status, the recording spans over 40 minutes and carries all the weight and vision of a full-length album. Like many releases from Eastern Europe at the time, it’s unrefined, obscure, and all the more captivating for it.
What sets Destiny apart is not just its murky production or the raw intensity typical of early death metal, but its willingness to bend the genre's boundaries. Right from the unsettling intro of “You’re Finding Yourself,” it becomes clear that Mortal Slaughter had a unique vision. Their music is dark, cavernous, and unpredictable, but also exploratory, with structural choices and instrumental flourishes that flirt with the progressive. The sludgy, reverb-soaked riffs recall Obituary in their filthiest moments, but the way the songs unfold—with sudden tempo shifts, unusual guitar solos, and unexpected textures like acoustic passages and subtle keyboard layers—brings to mind more adventurous acts like Lemming Project or Amboss.
Tracks like “Faith” exemplify this dynamic. Rather than rely on speed and brutality, the band conjures atmosphere through tension and contrast. The guitar solo that spirals through the track feels almost improvised, wild yet purposeful, and it's delivered over an oddly swinging drum pattern that defies the usual death metal conventions. There’s a looseness to the performance, as if the band were channeling their ideas in the moment, yet the songs remain cohesive and compelling throughout. The vocals, buried in the mix and warped through effects, contribute to the record’s eerie, dreamlike quality.
There’s an undeniable charm in the rough edges. Yes, Destiny is raw and imperfect, but its ambition and character far outweigh any technical shortcomings. It captures a moment when genre lines were still being drawn, and bands like Mortal Slaughter could carve out their own bizarre corner of death metal without constraint. It’s no surprise that some members would later pursue more progressive directions, but here, in its most primal form, their creativity still shines.
For fans of death metal that ventures into the strange and the unexpected—records like Changes by Miasma or Those Who Have Lost the Right to Exist by Amboss—Destiny is essential listening. It may have slipped beneath the radar, but it's a hidden gem worth rediscovering.
