"I Monarch" was cool, it just takes time getting into. It may not be innovative but I think it's very pure and full of soul, it has the essence and vibe of oldschool metal. Plus a bit of technicality like modern DM but not all that much. I remember when they played "Behold Judas" live that song got stuck in my head for weeks until I actually listened to the album. I shook Erik's hand on stage btw. :P
I still think "King of All Kings" was better, but Erik Rutan sais that the new one is more "focused", less technical but a more accurate representation of his musicmanship. So basically the approach to writing was more straight forward as opposed to well-thought out stuff, which in essence that's what death metal is: complete liberty over music, but a lot of modern tech DM listeners might think it's crap.
I haven't listened to the first one a lot yet, but it sounds to me an aweful lot like Cannibal Corpse? Weird, must be cuz the bassplayer they had at the time(CC's bassplayer) was more into writing the music?
The earliest of Rutan's work can be heard in a demo/rehearsal tape from '92 from the band Ripping Corpse, just before he joined Morbid Angel. You can tell it's him, and why Morbid took him in as a 2nd guitarist. I think he(and Schuldiner from Death) is one of the first DM guitarists that gave DM leads that "egyptian" feel which is common in DM nowadays(modern Morbid Angel, Nile, Behemoth, Zyklon)since he uses those sorts of scales in the solos.
Btw, did any of you guitarists know that Chuck Schuldiner from Death NEVER knew music theory? He just came up with whatever he felt like playing. Unbelievable. So yeah, fuck lessons or something. :wacko:
However, Vogg from Decapitated still remains as my guitar idol. Btw, I have my guitar in C# cuz I'm learning HE's "Powers that Be". :D Also going to play/figure out some more of Behemoth's "Demigod" cuz it uses that tuning.