Artist: Death
Label: Combat Records
Release Date: 1990
Rating: 5 Skulls
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Title: Spiritual Healing Artist: Death Label: Combat Records Release Date: 1990 Rating: 5 Skulls |
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Requiem's Review:
By 1990, death metal was well under way and securing its place in the metal underground. It proved to be more menacing than thrash, and the vocals took the next step into the extreme. Spiritual Healing marked a pivotal point for Death in terms of taking death metal to the next level. Death introduced a finely tuned craft for killer riffs and intricate drumbeats, a much-needed step forward from the raw and rampant albums that were being created before. And who could argue the classic lineup of Terry Butler, Bill Andrews, James Murphy and of course Chuck Schuldiner. Not I.Leprosy showed the band progressing, but it wasn't 'til Spiritual Healing that they really got it. Every member gave a fantastic performance and the production was crystal clear, something lacking from most of the competition. Every song has at least one mind-boggling riff on it. Check out the scale patterns two minutes into album opener "Living Monstrosity." Check out the opening hammer on riff in "Spiritual Healing." Check out the opening muted mid paced riff on "Genetic Reconstruction." I could go on for days. Chuck obviously deserves the most credit for crafting such masterpieces but Bill Andrews gave one of the best drum performances I've ever heard, in terms of coming up with some of the craftiest beats imaginable. And one can't deny hearing Murphy and Shuldiner soloing side by side. These two guys have earned their place in metal by the sheer passion in every note they play. One of the greatest guitar duos ever? Quite possibly.
The lyrics even touch upon interesting matters. "Living Monstrosity" deals with cocaine addicted newborns while "Altering the Future" deals with anti-abortion, a big step up from the subjects on Scream Bloody Gore. Every song is a winner here, easily earning Spiritual Healing a spot on the best death metal albums of all times list. Sure, Death when on to progress and get more tech with each album (and believe me I love every one of them), but here is where they really showed their elite status. It may still be too raw for the new jacks of death metal, but I assure you most of us old school fuckers have to pick our jaws up off the floor after every listen. R.I.P Chuck.
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