Artist: Death
Label: Relativity Records
Release Date: 1991
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Human Artist: Death Label: Relativity Records Release Date: 1991 Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Kefka X's Review:
Wow.I don't think anyone saw this album coming in 1991. Chuck Schuldiner, known as one of the forefathers of extreme death, known for such metal classics with gore-infested titles like Scream Bloody Gore and Leprosy, gave his signature creation a total 180 turnaround. The best part is that he didn't even need to change his clichéd, cheesy band logo to do so.
The most unique characteristic that sets each Death album apart is its line-up. Spiritual Healing, the previous Death album, is also the last Death album to have an old-school, late 80's Roadrunner death style to it. The album also consists of James Murphy and half of the members of Massacre (Terry Butler and Bill Andrews). Human's line-up was of nearly unknown musicians from underground cult bands. Steve DiGorgio was best known for being in Testament at the time, as well as Sadus, an excellent thrash band from Roadrunner Records best known for touring with Obituary and Sepultura. Sean Reinert and Paul Masvidal were from the soon-to-be legendary Cynic, a band that had only released a few demos at the time of recording this album. After the release of Human, the entire metal world would know the names of these guys, as well as the technical genius behind their respective instruments.
The only album to even remotely compare to Human at the time was Piece of Time by Atheist, and even that release pushed the envelope back for death metal. Human starts off as a pummeling force of music, delivering punch after punch of some of the fastest, most technical death imaginable for its time. It almost feels MECHANICAL. But as you go through the album's eight flawless tracks, the genius of the music seeps in and you begin to hear the massive jazz influence flow, and you are reminded that the performers on this release are real human beings. Songs like "Suicide Machine" and "Flattening of Emotions" make little allusion to previous Death recordings, and take you in their own direction. "Cosmic Sea," Human's instrumental, highlights the talents of each individual musician. With each listen I still cannot pick out a favorite song. I admire them all equally.
This is arguably, THE definitive progressive death album, and THE definitive progressive Death album. This recording helped promote and perfect the movement of jazz-influenced metal that Atheist started. It also marked the turning point in Chuck Schuldiner's legacy. Each Death album afterwards would expand on the concept of Human, even with a constant line-up change.
What a hell of an album.
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