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Mekkalayakay
10-08-2004, 04:30 PM
Death - The Sound of Perseverance

http://www.metalpesado.com.br/BANDAS/biografia/INTERNACIONAIS/DEATH_BIOG/TheSoundOfPerseveranceCover.jpg

Death is:

Chuck Schuldiner - Guitar, Vocals
Richard Christy - Drums
Scott Clendenin - Bass
Shannon Hamm - Guitar

Produced by Jim Morris & Chuck Schuldiner at Morrisound Studios, Tampa Florida.
Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Jim Morris
Music and Lyrics by Chuck Schuldiner

Track Listing for The Sound of Perseverance:

Scavenger of Human Sorrow
Bite the Pain
Spirit Crusher
Story to Tell
Flesh and the Power it Holds
Voice of the Soul
To Forgive is to Suffer
A moment of Clarity
Painkiller
__________________________________________________ _______________
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And when you look long into the Abyss, the Abyss also looks into you."

-Frederick Wilhelm Nietzche-

This quote, accurately depicting the album, is written in the lyric book. Although many claim this not to be Death's best album, I still think it is a masterpiece altogether. The technicality, mixed with the rage of Schuldiner's voice, and his amazing songwriting skills makes this album what I claim to be nearly perfect.
Schuldiner's voice is a bit different on this one; in pitch and intensity, but I feel that it is needed for this album, and it wouldn't be the same without it. Richard Christie's chops are outstanding, pushing the limits, while Clendenin's bass blows you away at the same time. Death is one of those technical bands that can blend everything together. When you listen to Death, you aren't just listening for one instrument that sticks out. They all stick out, at the same time. A very hard thing to explain, actually. This album is very well produced and mixed, and it shows.
The song Painkiller, by Judas Priest is covered on this album, and in my opinion, is one of the best covers of all time. They didn't change it too much, but Chuck made it his own, and his vocals are incredible.
This is one of my favorite albums in my collection, and I would hate to be parted from it.
Also keep in mind that this is my one and only Death cd, but I have heard numerous songs by the band.

Track Review

Scavenger of Human Sorrow - This song definately wakes you up with Christie's 10 second drum solo, following the first riff, which is intense. This is definately one of the hilights of the album. Death changes time signatures a TON on this album, and it really shows. This song doesn't seem like much until you hear the chorus, when it speeds up. Amazing job by all musicians on this song. 5/5

Bite the Pain - Not one of my favorite tracks on the album, but that is saying absolutely nothing. Every song on this album is amazing, but this just happens to be one of the songs that I don't enjoy quite as much. Still very well written. 4/5

Spirit Crusher - One of my favorites, easily. Starts out with more of a typical Death sound. I love the lyrics in this song also. Chuck was a genius. I love the tempo changes in this song, and is definately one of the better songs of the album. 5/5

Story to Tell - This is one of the other songs that doesn't stick out quite as much, but is still very good. The song starts off with a very weird time sig, and Christie makes it even more complicated, changing signatures to swiftly. This is actually one of the slower tempo'd Death songs, but that means nothing. Death is Death, and this song is definately good. 4.5/5

Flesh and the Power it Holds - One of the best. I didn't even notice how good it was until I listened to it about 5 times. Then it hit me. This is one of my favorite songs on this album right now. Hilights: The chorus like part where Chuck screams "Touch......Taste.....Breeeeathe.....the soooooooound". I don't know if it's just me, but that part gets me every time. Mixed with the guitar part, it's just one of those vocal orgasms. Just amazing. 5/5

Voice of Soul - An acoustic/electric masterpiece. I love this song. It's base is an acoustic melody, with two electric guitars layered on top. The final result is outstanding. Very melodic. I never knew Death did stuff like this, but it's definately a good break from the intensity in this album. 5/5

To Forgive is to Suffer - Another 10 second drum solo type thing, that leads to the first riff. This seriously sounds to me like the "Rising Action/Climax" of a book, but on an album. Hell, every song on this album is very good, but this is another that doesn't stick out as much as other songs. But still amazing, nonetheless. 4.5/5

A Moment of Clarity - Very different intro/riff, which harmonizes with two guitars. I really haven't gotten to listen to this song as many times as the others, so I'm going to try and accurately rate this, just like the others. It is nothing less than Death standards, yet has a different type of feel to it, which isn't necessarily bad. 4.5/5

PainKiller - One of the best covers of all time, in my opinion. Starts off with the mini-drum solo, covered by one of the best, Richard Christie. But the main hilight of this song is definately Chuck Schuldiner. He really shows off his vocal talent on this song. I have never heard him sing like this, and it blows me away. One of the best vocalists of all time. I will give it a 4.5/5 since it is just a cover, but as for vocal talent, Schuldiner deserves more than a 5/5.

Technically - 42/45 = 4.2/5, but I would give this album around a 4.7/5

Again, this is one of my favorite albums of all time, and I hope I can convince you to buy it, or if you are just getting into Death, this is one of those albums that is nice to start with, which would also include Symbolic (which is considered one of the best, if not THE best)

Thanks for reading this review. I hope it is helpful and benefits you in one way or another.


-Mekkalayakay

cbmartinez
10-08-2004, 04:37 PM
Great Review. I've been meaning to check these guys out for a while. They're very grind-y, right?

Dark Hero
10-08-2004, 04:43 PM
I had dibs on this until the computer I was doing it on crashed. Your review looks better than mine anyway.

Mekkalayakay
10-08-2004, 04:44 PM
Hmm. I don't know exactly what you mean by the term "grind". All I can say is that they are definately one of those death metal bands that are "out there'. Kind of like Cynic and Atheist, but not. (as in, their style is different)

Death is one of those bands that anybody can like, because the vocals aren't as intense as most death metal bands, and that seems to be the main complaint.

My best term to describe them would be Technical, intense metal. It's kind of hard to describe :-/

Good songs to download:

Without Judgement
Spirit Crusher
Scavenger of Human Sorrow
Flesh and the Power it Holds
Overractive Imagination

The typical (as in more people think this) best 3 albums are Symbolic, Individual Thoughts and Patterns, and Sound of Perseverance. All masterpieces in my opinion.

I had dibs on this until the computer I was doing it on crashed. Your review looks better than mine anyway.

:lol: I'm sorry to hear that. :(

Dark Hero
10-08-2004, 04:46 PM
My favorite Death songs are The Philoshopher and Out Of Touch

Per Ardua Ad Astra
10-08-2004, 09:22 PM
Awesome review, i have this album (see the user title). 4.5 -4.7 seems about right. The Judas Priest cover is awesome as well as most of the album.

At first i thought it was too technical for technicalities sake but i have realized that it blends together so perfectly.

sensitiveorgan00
10-08-2004, 10:14 PM
Hmm. I don't know exactly what you mean by the term "grind". All I can say is that they are definately one of those death metal bands that are "out there'. Kind of like Cynic and Atheist, but not. (as in, their style is different)

Death is one of those bands that anybody can like, because the vocals aren't as intense as most death metal bands, and that seems to be the main complaint.

My best term to describe them would be Technical, intense metal. It's kind of hard to describe :-/

Good songs to download:

Without Judgement
Spirit Crusher
Scavenger of Human Sorrow
Flesh and the Power it Holds
Overractive Imagination

The typical (as in more people think this) best 3 albums are Symbolic, Individual Thoughts and Patterns, and Sound of Perseverance. All masterpieces in my opinion.



:lol: I'm sorry to hear that. :(

By grind he probably means uber blast beats, no riffage, and all that generic grindcore or modern brutal death metal. :p

Anyways, nice review. I should pick this album sometime, but I need an older Death album first. Teh Painkiller cover is currently on my playlist. I've only heard that, and Spirit Crusher off this album. However, Chuck went Christian on this album. :D You can tell by teh Death logo as well.

Stoic
10-09-2004, 06:01 AM
^
I dont really think so...Here's Chucks answer to a question from an interview taken back in 1998:

-Talking about the logo, in Spiritual Healing's logo, the letter "T" is an inverted cross on fire, but no more! Did this have any meaning?

-The inverted cross on fire? No. Just really a logo. I'm not religious at all. I don't have any problems with religion, but at same time I'm not religious.That logo was created when we're all 16 years old, in 1983. So, after all, I realized I've got to change this because this is ridiculous, to even have it being something, representing a religion thing when I'm not religious, but at the same time, like I said, I have nothing against people having their right to believe things, I think people do have a right.

(www.altarsofmetal.com)

Besides, Nietzche's philosophy (at least what I've read so far) is far from religion and christianity

sensitiveorgan00
10-09-2004, 08:00 AM
Well, then he realized he had a tumor.

Distorted Vision
10-09-2004, 01:23 PM
I've only got Human at the moment, I really need to get some more Death. I was going to get Individual Thought Patterns next but you may have convinced me to check this out.

Mekkalayakay
10-09-2004, 01:26 PM
Sound of Perseverance wasn't my first choice either, but it was the only Death cd that one of my local stores had, and holy **** am I glad I got this one.

I've heard a few songs from Inidividual Thoughts and Patterns, and that is an amazing album too.

Dark Hero
10-09-2004, 02:08 PM
Leprosy is also very good.

Stoic
10-09-2004, 02:15 PM
When I first bought SOP I was annoyed by the vocals and didnt bother to give it a second chance. Then after a year and a half (in the meanwhile I had checked tons of technical/progressive groups and had some experience) I decided to listen to it again and guess what...the vocals sounded totally normal to me and I found the music incredible. I still blame myself for taking me so long to appreciate SOP...

superpeer
10-09-2004, 04:27 PM
This album never amazed me, the musicianship is of course of a high level, but the songwriting lacks, some songs are just not memorable.

But there are some great tracks on this, it's still a good album.

3.5/5

iliketoplaydrums10111
10-09-2004, 04:55 PM
Oh they sound good

Will someone send it to muah on aim???



please :(

Shadows
10-09-2004, 07:26 PM
Haven't heard anything off this one, but I have Symbolic which is great. Great review.

Det_Nosnip
10-10-2004, 01:46 PM
Curious, I listened to the Priest cover....

holy ****, you're right!! :amaze:

blueyxd
10-11-2004, 06:12 AM
Good review there.
I only know Spirit Crusher, it's pretty good. I like the technicality but some of the faster bits do get to me though since I don't like that kind of thing.
So say... if I really liked Atheist - Elements but not so much Unquestionable Presence (mainly due to the faster bits in that), what Death stuff would I like or not like?

Per Ardua Ad Astra
10-11-2004, 12:24 PM
Besides, Nietzche's philosophy (at least what I've read so far) is far from religion and christianity

Actually I believe Nietzche has written about Christianity.

incubliss
10-11-2004, 03:05 PM
i've only ever heard Empty Words and The Philosopher, which my friends band covered at their gig. i've got those two songs on my pc aswell.

i quite liked those songs, altho, i'm not too keen on the vocals. that's only because i don't particularly like the kinda screaming side of vocals. the only person who i can tolerate doing so is Dennis Lyxzen.

Det_Nosnip
10-11-2004, 10:23 PM
Actually I believe Nietzche has written about Christianity.

Not exactly positively. :lol: He kinda coined the phrase "God is dead."

Det_Nosnip
10-11-2004, 10:24 PM
i've only ever heard Empty Words and The Philosopher, which my friends band covered at their gig. i've got those two songs on my pc aswell.

i quite liked those songs, altho, i'm not too keen on the vocals. that's only because i don't particularly like the kinda screaming side of vocals. the only person who i can tolerate doing so is Dennis Lyxzen.

...*ventures a guess* Refused?

Per Ardua Ad Astra
10-12-2004, 05:11 PM
Not exactly positively. He kinda coined the phrase "God is dead."

:lol:
I never said he wrote positively about it. He mainly talks about how Christianity will come about it's demise. From what i've read.

extreme_191
10-17-2004, 10:37 PM
4.8/5

I only own a handful of DM albums. This one is excellant!

What are some good Technical bands like Death? I love how destinctive each instrument is. They are all excellant musicians.

manuscriptreplica
10-18-2004, 06:42 AM
Atheist, Cynic, Watchtower. The usual.

Nuclear Doom Machine
10-20-2004, 06:10 PM
A very good Death album indeed.

Shadows
10-20-2004, 06:54 PM
Very good album overall indeed.

Maglor
10-21-2004, 10:35 AM
I've only got Human at the moment, I really need to get some more Death. I was going to get Individual Thought Patterns next but you may have convinced me to check this out.
I think that you were right on your first choice...
I think that Individual thought Patterns needs to first heard, and then go and listen to the more recent stuff... that would be smart.