In the opinion of the reviewer, this album represents the best of the earlier Death albums. 1987′s ‘Scream Bloody Gore‘ was a memorable, charmed album that contributed heavily to popularising the evolving death metal style, though lacked the momentum of originators Possessed and the subversion of Autopsy (a band on whom said album’s drummer, Chris Reifert, was the founder). ‘Leprosy’, released the following year was a more solid, cohesive and melodic affair that anticipated the melodic and compositional approaches of much European (namely Swedish) death metal. With the turn of a new decade, and the replacement of Rick Rozz (Massacre) with James Murphy (Obituary) as Chuck Schuldiner’s fellow axeman, we see the most unique twist yet on their changing formula.
Sticking to their formats of mid-paced songs, the execution of riffs here are more spread out and less even, one could say ‘broken down’ in a manner that would not be too unfamiliar with the likes of the first two Obituary albums, but comes across like a technical version of Celtic Frost/Hellhammer, blending in and comfortably acquainting itself with the knack for melodic progressions first hinted at on ‘Leprosy’. Murphy’s guitar playing is inseparable from his leadwork on the ‘Cause Of Death’ album by fellow Floridians Obituary, quite flashy, clean and tasteful, working beautifully over the juxtaposition of riff dynamics that simultaneously tread primitivism and sophistication.
Bill Andrew’s drumming, whilst not distinct, is particularly good and makes excellent use of rhythmic structure and syncopation, making it’s technicalities much clearer with slower tempos. Terry Butler completes the rhythm section, with his basslines complimenting and adhering with rhythm guitar.
Lyrical concepts shift from the gory metaphors that permeate death metal and take on a more topical, societal outlook, not as politically charged as Master but having a cynical and semi-psychological outlook, in what is probably the strongest and wisest Death would be, conceptually speaking.
“Life for a life should remain the rule
The innocent victim, that is what’s cruel
Look to the past is what we should do
When justice was done and justice was true.”
Perhaps overhyped by some quarters of metal communities and being often miscredited with ‘inventing’ death metal in addition, the ‘Spiritual Healing’ album serves as an excellent syncretism of death metal’s atavistic origins with a more highly advanced sense of execution and structure.
Filed under: Death Metal Album of the Week — Tags: Death Metal, Florida Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Death Metal — Pearson @ July 17, 2010 15:03 — Comments (2)
”Some say she’s naive-
She’s a stupid bitch!”
Comment by militantidiotcrusher — July 19, 2010 @ 15:01
great album, still giving the creeps listening to it…
Comment by Yuriy — August 8, 2010 @ 07:31