Artist: Morbius
Country: Indonesia
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2025
‘Malicious Rites’ is the debut demo of a new band called Morbius. With about a dozen other bands with the same name, Morbius isn’t quite the most original band name around, but I am pretty sure this is the only one hailing from central Java, Indonesia. While the demo is still rather fresh, digitally released in November 2025, the music of this power trio is everything but that. These guys dig deep in Thrash-/Speed Metal’s traditions to deliver one hell of a demo.
This is the sort of music that shows you that straight forwardness and simplicity can go hand in hand with effectiveness and, well, plain killer songs. Nothing on ‘Malicious Rites’ is either very original nor very sophisticated, but it brings you right back to the best of the mid-80s Thrash Metal. There’s lots of Kreator and Destruction as well as bits and pieces that reminds of Whiplash, Slayer and Blood Feast. This is all about blistering, thrashing speed with surprisingly catchy riffs and leads and recalls those vibrant years that Extreme Metal became really extreme and was clearly shaking off all the Iron Maiden-inspired days. Hence the equally extreme vocals; the yelling vocals give the music that extra bit of ferocity and fits well within the same league of those of the aforementioned Kreator and Whiplash. To add another dimension to their already baffling authenticity the last track, ‘Evocation’, starts with a slow and bewitching Black Sabbath inspired riff. But before you know it, Morbius is back at it and thrashes the brains out of your skull.
We often revel in romantic thoughts and memories of the past, the magically powerful days when Extreme Metal developed into a true phenomenon that we are still involved with today. However, in this day and age, gems like this do not remain undiscovered for long, even if they come from somewhat exotic places like Indonesia. Dying Victims Productions was quick to give ‘Malicious Rites’ a physical release, and in March of this year it will be out on cassette tape under the inspired leadership of the German label.
