One of the most revered metal bands. Not just in death metal, though they may have their roots in the genre are Death. Beginning in the form of a straight up affair, detailing gory tales of unfortunate ends, a blueprint for so much of the death metal that we have come to know now. Before slowly evolving, strikingly in terms of sound, song writing and lyrical content. One of the most fantastic bands ever to exist, yet unfortunately within beauty lies tragedy.
For those who don’t already know Chuck Schuldiner, the essence of Death, experienced pain in his back, thinking that it was nothing more than a pinched nerve it turned out to be a lot worse. Beginning in May 1999 it was revealed that Schuldiner had a tumour, after undergoing treatment things were looking up. October 1999 and the tumour had necrotized, alas the treatment had left the Schuldiner family $70,000 in debt. With the metal community banding together, donations were pouring in. Though two years after his original diagnosis, the cancer returned. After struggling to pay for treatment a second time, the singer eventually got the chemotherapy that was needed, yet contracted pneumonia in his weak state. At approximately 4pm on December of 13th the singer was pronounced dead. Though this in itself is a tragedy, we have learned this week that yet another member has been taken into the metaphorical darkness. Scott Clendenin. The man responsible for the bass rumble on Death’s finest hour, the pinnacle of their progression as a band. The Sound Of Perseverance.
DEATH – THE SOUND OF PERSEVERANCE
In order to truly appreciate the genius behind this album, personally I think that a small setting of the scene is required. Schuldiner being the only founding member of Death, had decided that the band would have an almost rotating line up. Not because he was a megalomaniac simply because he believed that a fresh perspective would deliver ideas not thought of before. Having written the absolutely colossal Symbolic just three years prior, we saw the band begin to adopt a more progressive style of writing. Longer songs, with more mature subject matter delving more into the philosophical aesthetic. This ideal was seemingly perfected on Death swansong. Enlisting guitarist Shannon Hamm, drummer Richard Christy and of course Scott Clendenin, Schuldiner had assembled his team of musicians.
Resulting in eight songs that contain, emotive melodies, thought provoking lyrics and incredible musicianship the album was released in 1998 still today it is revered by many as the paradigm of death metal. Featuring different vocal delivery than previous along with some of the most technical song writing in the band’s career. The various emotional range is plentiful, from the instrumental melancholy of “Voice Of The Soul” to defiant “Story To Tell” featuring some of the most inspired writing on the album. Though fans of breakneck riffing wouldn’t be disappointed with songs like the terrific “Spirit Crusher” and “Scavenger Of Human Sorrow“. Though a personal favourite of mine are the riffs scaling lead lines of “Flesh And The Power It Holds“.
Where in the past metal heads have been accused of having lack lustre material, backward views on lyrical content and well, just a load of growling. I would contest that anyone were to find a fault with this absolutely limitless album. Not least that in hindsight after learning of Schuldiner‘s passing adds a sense of haunting beauty. For so many that feel that it is easy to stamp the death metal category with juvenile stories of obscene horror, in one fell swoop, Death managed to completely reinvent not only the band’s sound but the genre itself. A true work of art that deserves all the artistic merit garnered. Sadly this week we said good bye to one of its four pillars holding the album so high up.
We will miss you Scott Clendenin and of course Chuck Schuldiner, rest in peace and in the words of The Sound Of Perseverance liner notes,
“Human at sight, monster at heart.
Don’t let it inside. It could tear you right apart.
No guilt, it feeds right in plain sight.
Spirit Crusher. Stay strong and hold on tight.”
