Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
III - Tracklisting
1.The Sorcerer 04:58
2.Farewell To Gleann An Ghad 02:50
3.Betrayers! 05:43
Review
III is the debut EP from Manchester Morgue who fuse Doom, Psych, Folk, Sludge and Stoner Rock into their wider cinematic universe of riff-driven melodies. Their debut EP is a concept record of sorts which is explained by the band below:
“III tells three stories, each dedicated to one of the protagonists of our narrative concept: a necromancer brought back to life, an Irish emigrant fleeing his past, and a fallen nobleman consumed by betrayal.”
III does have a multimedia narrative for the most part but this allows Manchester Morgue to be quite creative with their music with the hidden storylines appearing within the individual tracks. The band have also stated their influence is driven by their passion for 19th-century gothic, adventure and horror literature, B-movies, and pulp imagery.
The EP also has a slight video-game influence as well which allows different sounds and textures to appear with Manchester Morgue playing songs that could easily be inspired by the Red Dead Redemption universe but still creating their own haunting identity. The record is a vibrant mix that’s played on each track with some superb Post-Doom and Gothic sound being played on the excellent opening track The Sorcerer.
Second track Farewell To Gleann An Ghad is a Folk Rock driven number which is more melancholic and dramatic to the other tracks on the album. It’s perhaps my least favourite song on the EP but it shows a different side to Manchester Morgue compared to the hard-rocking sounds of the other tracks. The song is dominated by a historical Irish background which is quite surprising since the band are actually Italian but they pull this off with superb realism.
Third track Betrayers! is a great style of Doom, Stoner and Psych Rock driven track with Manchester Morgue applying a trippy Eastern vibe into the mix. This feels like a completely different band compared to the other tracks with Manchester Morgue delivering the standout track on the EP. The song feels inspired by the likes of Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid, Led Zepp and Green Lung where the song moves into heavier distorted sludgier grooves.
III is a solid and superbly entertaining record. I’m still not fully sold on the second track but that will change over time. However, Manchester Morgue has real potential here and you can feel they have the talent to deliver something really special in the near future. Until then, embrace the dark and twisted fantastical vision that Manchester Morgue has delivered with “III”.
Words by Steve Howe
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