Individual Thought Patterns

I got into death metal in the mid 90's but I overlooked the band Death because they were not deep and down tuned enough to my liking like Obituary or thrashy enough like Sepultura or Morbid Angel. I was first exposed to them when I heard the song Symbolic on Death is Just the Beginning compilation. It did not grab me for the above reasons.

Fast forward to mid 2000's and my taste in metal changed to seeking something more progressive. I came across the song Jealousy and was immediately amazed by the technicality and ferocity of the opening riff. Even today I am in awe at how Chuck plays this riff at such speed and precision. Together with his unique raspy screams, this is a song that demands respect and attention. I then explored songs from their other albums and was blown away by the quality of the music. I was deciding which album to purchase so I chose Individual Thought Patterns because it is a few albums deep into their career and therefore I expected the band to have 'ironed out some creases' by then and able to produce something not too raw and experimental sounding.

I like the album in its entirety because the production is clear but not polished so it does showcase a sense of rawness. I particularly like how we can hear Steve's bass through many of the tracks and he clearly demonstrates a funky/jazzy style of metal bass. The drumming is very tight on this album but it does not dominate or overpower the other instruments, instead the sound is of equal weight and volume.

The highlights for me are Chucks ability to create meaningful solos which appear in each song at the right moment and all have emotion, particularly the solo on Overactive Imagination and Mentally Blind. His ability to create and deliver a huge variety of riffs that are played with speed and precision continue to amaze me. Chuck's song writing is particularly interesting as its intelligent and thoughtful which is really original. I do like his vocals on this album also as it suits the style and pace of the music and if you listen intently enough you can understand what he is saying.

I am still discovering new sounds even after listening to the album hundreds of times, and I often return to this album from time to time and still receive the same joy and amazement listening to it, even though I know what to expect with each song.

The album features class acts, all showcasing their talents and skills, and I have a huge respect for all of them, particularly Chuck. His style and musicianship has really shaped my taste in metal greatly and this album pretty much started the shift to metal that is interesting, talented, yet heavy and crushing.

An excellent album that I recommend to anyone who appreciates metal.