Live in L.A. (Death & Raw)

Well, this one is a great live album...and first of all i have to say (being this my first Death review) that Chuck Schuldiner was and always will be the father of Death Metal. I mean, you have to admire a man who had that kind of persistence to make the world know about his music and to break the boundaries of his musical style. The man never gave up fighting during his "Mantas" years to bring us the most aggressive and superb death metal ever heard. So, after all, Chuck went to a better place so rightfully deserved for him, a place where this fantastic innovative soul can finally rest, apart from the hypocrisy, the lies and the betrayal that this world had only to offer him (as we see in some of his lyrical efforts). R.I.P brother...

This is a hell of a live album, Chuck and his mates really managed to destroy everything at their arrival every single night on that tour (sadly the last Death tour). We all know that Death’s leader abilities to surround himself with the finest musicians for his recordings were always very effective. The same members that played “Sound of Perseverance” with Chuck are present in this album…and I sometimes think…this could be the most solid Death formation in their whole entire history.
Shannon Hamm always played his parts decently, showing us that he also know how to make some technical fast shreds, especially when being able to replace Andy LaRocque’s parts; Scott Clendenin has his presence over here, this is a really great bass tone, I don’t know what the fuck he used on that concert, but that bass just sounds really good, especially at the intro for “Spirit Crusher” and then Richard Christy proves to be a worthy replacement over Gene Hoglan. Ferocious drum beats and a pure appetite for destruction are his personal marks on this record. Very competent line-up gathered by Chuck…of course, almost forgetting, the man himself make his impressive role as he always did, but this time singing with those anger high vocals like the ones in their last studio album. If you wanted me to describe the performance of these guys in one word, I would have to say: Devastating!!!

The highest points one this record are…”The Philosopher”( great riffs at that intro, classical Death stuff), “Spirit Crusher”( Great Bass, and also some great thrashing), “Trapped in a Corner”( Great solos, and also fantastic intro riffs), “Scavenger of Human Sorrow” (Great drumming and an excellent song), “Crystal Mountain” ( Symbolic’s best song, superbly executed), “Flesh and the Power it Holds” (long one, but a journey, not a bore), “Zero Tolerance, “Zombie Ritual” (SCREAM BLOODY GORE, SCREAM BLOODY GORE!!!!!!!!!!!), “Suicide Machine” (Great ass kicker), “Together as One” (Proving that “Human” was their finest album), “Empty Words” (Beautifully…Destructive), “Symbolic” (need to say something else?) and “Pull the Plug” (From the undeservedly despised “Leprosy” album, great finisher, brutal screaming by Chuck at the end)…Well the highest points are…ALL OF THEM!!!!

The production could be a lot better, because the title of the record really fits on the sound of it, “Death & RAW”. Sometimes the drumming by Christy is almost eating the other instruments alive, but they still managed to create in those conditions a hell of a fucking sound. My only advice: Get it…unfortunately it’s a little late for help (due to this being a beneficial record with the former purpose of providing money to pay for his health treatments, since he didn’t had a heath insurance), but it’s a worthy item to get…and a tribute to Death Metal, in it’s purest soul: Live!!!