Morlocks are a Swedish act formed in Gothenburg who combine elements of industrial rock, neo-classical, darkwave and metal. The name may well be inspired by one of the two fictional species of post-humans created by H. G. Wells for his 1895 novel The Time Machine, who are the story’s main antagonists.
The band who comprise of J.Strauss, Innocentius Rabiatus, Lamashtu and Reverend Grudge release their latest EP ‘Amor, Monstra Et Horrore Profundi’ this month which with my schoolboy Latin seems to translate to a deep love of monsters and horror.
This extended play opens with ‘The S.N.A.F.U. Principle v3.0`. The S.N.A.F.U. Principle appears to relate to Situation Normal, All Fucked Up where communication is only possible between equals. It begins with a pretty symphonic introduction before moving to a faster-paced churning grinding rhythm. I read that the track is about watching the world from a distance, getting angry at first, but also inspired, taking the darkest parts of it, and twisting them into something weird, beautiful and batshit insane. This I have to say is pretty much mirrored in the musical accompaniment shared. We enjoy a more grandiloquent aural soundscape in `March of the Goblins` which reflected what sounded like an army or Roman Legion striding with a purpose and determination.
`The Lake` is split into two sections pt l and pt ll with the former fairly haunting with violin hues and sounds like the calm before the storm. It merges into the second element which is three times the length of the first and is both symphonic and cinematic, fairly gentle, quite reflective, and thoughtful with vocals shared in a matter-of-fact nigh-on unemotive approach. There’s `s some growled vocals in the latter part before the number becomes fairly epic and extravagant. The song, unless I’m mistaken was originally released by Swedish Black Metal pioneers Bathory from Vällingby in 1996, who were named after Hungarian countess Elizabeth Báthory.
The EP closes out with `Young Prisoners` which echoes a kind of precursor or forerunner to something immense, which is sort of hinted at but not shared. Again, the composition seems to be a cover of a number by Slovenian electronic music/rock music group Borghesia, who were created in Ljubljana and released the track in 2013.
The band name Morlocks may well hint at a particular genre of music but if you put any preconceived ideas to one side and just listen, ‘Amor, Monstra Et Horrore Profundi’ is a wonderful mix of industrial rock, neo-classical, darkwave and metal and worth the nigh on thirty minute’s of time needed to let it into your body and soul.
Rating 8/10
REVIEW: MORLOCKS – AMOR, MONSRA ET HORRORE PROFUNDI EP (2025)
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