I saw this thread and wrote some stuff to post so please bear with me.
There is something about "knowing" what you are getting into and I think the essence of Atrax Morgue plays on expectations. Marco wrote some words about his concept of "The Quest."
I think what enabled Atrax Morgue to happen and succeed was Marco's relinquishing of his own personal identity- as well as his persistence in chasing his obsessions wherever they took him. In industrial music there were standards and expectations in place already when he started, but there was something beyond what had been done before that motivated Marco to do what he did with his expressions and recordings. I don't know if anyone will ever know for sure if they did not meet him in person, but regardless- through his music I truly feel a kinship with him and his spirit. I feel like I know him. I know from interviews that he was a cooperative and supportive musician and I feel that his success and or failure largly depended on his long term goals in his own life. His suicide speaks louder than any of his music. How do we know Marco was not full of shit or using extreme topics to get attention? He's dead. This begs the question: How does one truly know anything without discovery? How well does Marco know death? He discovered it for himself. In one interview he wrote that his last goal in life was to overcome his fear of physical pain. I admire the fact that he kept his focus so sharp and kept his emails to a minimum and also sent hand signed postcards to his penpals. A textbook sign of suicidal ideation is telling people you are going to do it.
With regards to his output as Atrax Morgue, I would say that the continuity of themes in his music and imagery is coherent and very strong in its effect. It's convincing and its not superficial or insincere, it is dark and it instills a true sense of hopelessness and morbid comfort.
With regard to releases, I have some I truly love:
Basic Autopsy Procedure is one of his best releases. Not because of its structure and premeditation, but because of its spontaneous delivery. It is definitely beyond the league of "noodling" even if it was improvised. I would save that term for people who truly deserve it. Basic Autopsy Procedure sounds perfect and it's a departure from his more tightly composed material.
Jason Crumer recommended Paranoia to me and in the fullness of time I can agree with him, that is one of his best releases track for track. He got everything perfect on that release.
James Oliver Huberty 7" in the self abuse murder series is one of the best Atrax Morgue releases, the themes and sounds mix together so perfectly, it serves a purpose as a soundtrack to the event itself.
Woundfucker re-issue has some of my personal favorite songs. Like Cuntdestroyer.
Black Slaughter is nothing short of a masterpiece for its minimalism alone.
