Abominations of Desolation

Abominations of Desolation is the intended debut album by Florida death metal band Morbid Angel. While it was originally recorded in 1986, the band decided not to release it at the time.

Abominations of Desolation
Demo album by Morbid Angel
Released	September 2, 1991
Recorded	1986
Genre	Death metal
Length	42:33
Label	Earache
Producer	David Vincent
Morbid Angel chronology
Blessed Are the Sick (1991) Abominations of Desolation (1991) Covenant (1993)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]

Background and recording

It is specified on the cover that it was intended to be their first full-length album, yet unreleased, which would make Altars of Madness their proper debut. The band recorded and initially promoted the album under this pretense, but the plans were shelved after vocalist Mike Browning left the band in 1986 due to an altercation with Trey Azagthoth. The album was recorded by producer David Vincent, who persuaded the band to fire bassist John Ortega and hire Sterling Von Scarborough. Vincent became the band's vocalist shortly afterwards.^[3]

Most of the songs were reworked and appeared on later Morbid Angel albums. "Chapel of Ghouls", "Lord of All Fevers and Plague", and "Welcome to Hell" (renamed "Evil Spells") can be heard on Altars of Madness. "Unholy Blasphemies", "Abominations" and "Azagthoth" (renamed "The Ancient Ones") are on Blessed Are the Sick. "Angel of Disease" was recorded for Covenant, and lastly, "Hell Spawn" finally appeared on Formulas Fatal to the Flesh as "Hellspawn: The Rebirth". To date, "Demon Seed" is the only song from these sessions that has not been re-recorded for a full-length album.

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Invocation/Chapel of Ghouls" ("Chapel of Ghouls" later recorded for Altars of Madness)	7:11
2.	"Unholy Blasphemies" (later recorded for Blessed Are the Sick)	4:00
3.	"Angel of Disease" (later recorded for Covenant)	5:35
4.	"Azagthoth" (later recorded for Blessed Are the Sick as "The Ancient Ones")	5:49
5.	"The Gate/Lord of All Fevers" (later recorded for Altars of Madness as "Lord of All Fevers and Plague")	5:55
6.	"Hell Spawn" (later recorded for Formulas Fatal to the Flesh as "Hellspawn: The Rebirth")	2:32
7.	"Abominations" (later recorded for Blessed Are the Sick)	4:20
8.	"Demon Seed"	2:12
9.	"Welcome to Hell" (later recorded for Altars of Madness as "Evil Spells")	4:56

Release

The album was recorded in 1986, though the planned release was canceled. These recordings would later be released in 1991 at the decision of the band's record label, Earache Records.^[1]

Personnel

Morbid Angel

• Mike Browning – drums, vocals
• Trey Azagthoth – guitars
• Richard Brunelle – guitars
• John Ortega – bass^[3]

Additional personnel

• Mark Craven – artwork
• L. Barry – layout