Death

[Diesel 11]

So I've been debating for a while whether or not to open a thread specifically for Death, because let's face it, they're more than just any old death metal band, so just talking about them in the death metal thread is limiting. At any rate, I decided to set it up today because I found this:

Overall a very good list. There's such a lot of ones you could have chosen from and I think they've gotten a lot of the highlights. Only things I feel should be changed are The Philosopher at #1, because TBH I've always found it a good yet overrated song, and far from their best riff. Also would have added Spirit Crusher and Pull The Plug, the latter of which I'm honestly surprised wasn't included, firstly because it's Loudwire *cough* and secondly because (unpopular opinion) it's one of their best riffs, probably right after Crystal Mountain for me.

Discuss.

 

[Srogyy]

To me the best Death riff is Symbolic. Not the one featured in this video, though. I mean the second, fast one. I love it, it's one of the very best death metal riffs I've ever heard. The way it hits you out of the blue in the song is perfect.

 

[terrell39]

Documentary about Chuck will include interviews with members from every lp as well as family

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/de...-by-metal-to-receive-dvd-release-this-friday/

 

[terrell39]

Don't know if I told this story already on another thread in the past but oh well, here it is:

Saw Death on Spiritual Healing tour with Carcass opening. However, after opening with Mutilation and going straight into Living Monstrosity, jerks up front knocked the mic stand into Chuck's mouth giving him a bloody lip! Then they started throwing ice at him so the band left the stage. Then the crowd got ugly and the police were called. Show was cancelled.

Years later, see Death live on the Symbolic tour. I meet Gene Hoglan before the show walking through the club! We talk about Dark Angel a bit and then i tell him what happened the last time Death played Houston. I tell him I am surprised Chuck returned. Gene says he never heard Chuck talk about it so he must not have a problem with it. What a guy! When the band hit the stage, Chuck was high fiving people up front and then opened with Spiritual Healing!

Awesome.

 

[GSW23MaidenFan]

I absolutely adore the Human cd. Chuck Shuldiner was a very talented musician, and underrated for the genre that he was pigeon-holed into.

 

[cynick]

you would need a top 50 for Death riffs. Chuck was a genius. on this particular list they are missing the open and end of Open Casket's riff, the middle Leprosy riff in between the tapping part and Rick Rozz's solo, the Left to Die's mid riff right after Chuck's solo, Zero Tolerance riff, and about pretty much every Human song. the guy was just bleeding riffs.

and yes, Human is probably one of my favorite top 3/5 metal albums.

absolutely genius in its simplicity and how good it sounds.

 

[Diesel 11]

you would need a top 50 for Death riffs.

Maybe we should do a poll in future and assemble a list from worst to best.

 

[John Silver]

Stylistically I been getting back into Death mode lately, really digging Sound of Perseverance and Human these last few days.

 

[phantomoftheicarus]

I have yet to receive my Sound of Perseverance hoodie Christmas present

Definitely one of the greatest albums ever written. Voice Of The Soul is testament to Chuck's skill and variety in music

 

[Diesel 11]

Yeah, TSOP is my favorite of their albums too. That said, I’ve not been in a Death mood in a while, so...

 

[terrell39]

A lucky (and well off) fan buys the original artwork for Symbolic:

DEATH: Original 'Symbolic' Artwork Sells For More Than $10,000

The original artwork for DEATH's classic 1995 album "Symbolic" signed by artist Rene Miville was recently sold on eBay for $10,100. At some point, DEATH mastermind Chuck Schuldiner had the original art tacked on his wall, hence the damage at the top, but the artwork was said to be in otherwise...

blabbermouth.net

 

[phantomoftheicarus]

Forgot about this thread. To set the record straight - a year later - I never got given that hoodie

 

[MindRuler]

Finally ordered Individual Thought Patterns! I got that album years ago on tape but played it to death. (pun intended!)

 

[terrell39]

Finally watched this on Amazon Prime Video; very well done and thorough biography and history of both Chuck and every Death lp!

 

[Siddharth]

Listening to an awesome piano cover of Crystal Mountain. Just in case, if I did not mention already, Symbolic is my favourite Death record and is in my Top 5!

 

[Siddharth]

The original cover art for the album Symbolic (my favourite Death album and among my favourite Metal albums ever). Possibly designed by Chuck himself along with the note on top.

 

[Eddie's Uncle]

I prefer the first 4 albums. Those were brilliamt Death Metal albums. After that, it was progressive metal with growls. I still liked ITP and Symbolic, though. Just not tomthe same extent as the first 4.
The only album I never got into is Sound of Perseverance. I found it disappointimg upon release and it never grew on me since. It was originally recorded as a Control Denied album, and Chuck had no more interest in Death. He only released it as a Death album bc of contractual obligations. And you can hear it. It was written for Control Denied and patched up with Death vocals. It does not fit. Would have worked much better as a proper Control Denied record.

From what I read over the decades, Chuck must have been a very, very difficult person to work with.

If I had to decide, Human is probably my fave.

 

[Diesel 11]

Since we're on the subject, I reviewed all of Death's albums and songs at the beginning of the year but never did a wrap-up post. Here's my ranking with links to the reviews:

1. Symbolic (96%) >
2. Human (93%) >
3. The Sound of Perseverance (92%) >
4. Leprosy (86%) >
5. Individual Thought Patterns (86%) >
6. Scream Bloody Gore (82%) >
7. Spiritual Healing (71%) >

Spiritual Healing is the only real misstep and that's only when you compare it to how great the rest of their discography is. All the other albums are genre-defining classics rightfully lauded, and Symbolic is one of the best metal albums in the history of the genre. Great band, super consistent. Chuck's perfectionism and refusal to stay in one spot really makes each album a unique experience. The GOAT of death metal.

Here's a ranking of all of their songs:

Spoiler: Every Death Song Ranked

1. “Crystal Mountain”, Symbolic (10/10)
2. “Voice of the Soul”, The Sound of Perseverance (10/10)
3. “Symbolic”, Symbolic (10/10)
4. “Pull the Plug”, Leprosy (10/10)
5. “Together as One”, Human (10/10)
6. “Overactive Imagination”, Individual Thought Patterns (10/10)
7. “Flattening of Emotions”, Human (10/10)
8. “Sacred Serenity”, Symbolic (10/10)
9. “Spirit Crusher”, The Sound of Perseverance (10/10)
10. “Lack of Comprehension”, Human (10/10)
11. “Forgotten Past”, Leprosy (10/10)
12. “Zero Tolerance”, Symbolic (10/10)
13. “Bite the Pain”, The Sound of Perseverance (10/10)
14. “Trapped in a Corner”, Individual Thought Patterns (10/10)
15. “Suicide Machine”, Human (10/10)
16. “Empty Words”, Symbolic (10/10)
17. “Painkiller” (Judas Priest cover), The Sound of Perseverance (10/10)
18. “Baptized in Blood”, Scream Bloody Gore (10/10)
19. “Leprosy”, Leprosy (10/10)
20. “The Philosopher”, Individual Thought Patterns (10/10)
21. “Misanthrope”, Symbolic (9/10)
22. “Story to Tell”, The Sound of Perseverance (9/10)
23. “Secret Face”, Human (9/10)
24. “Born Dead”, Leprosy (9/10)
25. “1,000 Eyes”, Symbolic (9/10)
26. “Without Judgement”, Symbolic (9/10)
27. “Evil Dead”, Scream Bloody Gore (9/10)
28. “In Human Form”, Individual Thought Patterns (9/10)
29. “Torn to Pieces”, Scream Bloody Gore (9/10)
30. “A Moment of Clarity”, The Sound of Perseverance (9/10)
31. “To Forgive Is to Suffer”, The Sound of Perseverance (9/10)
32. “See Through Dreams”, Human (9/10)
33. “Spiritual Healing”, Spiritual Healing (9/10)
34. “Perennial Quest”, Symbolic (9/10)
35. “Zombie Ritual”, Scream Bloody Gore (9/10)
36. “Mutilation”, Scream Bloody Gore (9/10)
37. “Destiny”, Individual Thought Patterns (9/10)
38. “Flesh and the Power It Holds”, The Sound of Perseverance (8/10)
39. “Infernal Death”, Scream Bloody Gore (8/10)
40. “Scavenger of Human Sorrow”, The Sound of Perseverance (8/10)
41. “Jealousy”, Individual Thought Patterns (8/10)
42. “Choke on It”, Leprosy (8/10)
43. “Vacant Planets”, Human (8/10)
44. “Mentally Blind”, Individual Thought Patterns (8/10)
45. “Primitive Ways”, Individual Thought Patterns (8/10)
46. “Scream Bloody Gore”, Scream Bloody Gore (8/10)
47. “Killing Spree”, Spiritual Healing (8/10)
48. “Living Monstrosity”, Spiritual Healing (8/10)
49. “Cosmic Sea”, Human (8/10)
50. “Out of Touch”, Individual Thought Patterns (8/10)
51. “Within the Mind”, Spiritual Healing (8/10)
52. “Left to Die”, Leprosy (7/10)
53. “Open Casket”, Leprosy (7/10)
54. “Sacrificial”, Scream Bloody Gore (7/10)
55. “God of Thunder” (KISS cover), Human (7/10)
56. “Regurgitated Guts”, Scream Bloody Gore (7/10)
57. “Altering the Future”, Spiritual Healing (7/10)
58. “Individual Thought Patterns”, Individual Thought Patterns (7/10)
59. “Nothing Is Everything”, Individual Thought Patterns (7/10)
60. “Denial of Life”, Scream Bloody Gore (6/10)
61. “Beyond the Unholy Grave”, Scream Bloody Gore (6/10)
62. “Defensive Personalities”, Spiritual Healing (6/10)
63. “Genetic Reconstruction”, Spiritual Healing (6/10)
64. “Low Life”, Spiritual Healing (5/10)
65. “Land of No Return”, Scream Bloody Gore (5/10)

 

[The_7th_one]

Amazing Work!!!

 

[Eddie's Uncle]

Evil Dead, 1000 Eyes, and Suicide Machine not in the top 10? Within the Mind on 51? Denial of Life on 60? Oh Lord of Metal, forgive this poor sinner, for he doesnt know what he is doing...