Symbolic

Death's 6th full-length studio album, "Symbolic". Now near the end of the Death discography, with one more to go, I am reviewing this album and just wondering "how the fuck does this band keep going?" Like, honestly this band has made more changes in sound than any other band I have ever heard. The thing is though... Every time they change their sound, it ends up being so good, if not better than the previous. It's amazing. Death is a band that people should worship. They should look at Death and see Metal. They are the masters. The Gods.


The first track of the album is the title track, "Symbolic", a brilliant intro song, starts of slower, and ends up clocking in at about six and a half minutes. This is Death's Progressive stage and it really shows up on this song. Odd time signatures, lengthy track, technicality, multiple sound changes, you know, that old chestnut. Death has truly done a great job turning into a Progressive Death Metal band. They successfully got into it without destroying themselves completely, which would understandably be very hard to do.


The guitar is too good to explain. But I'll try to the best of my ability. Fast as fuck, very well placed, well paced, spectacular solos, very technical, incredible. There is a lot of variety in the album. The song "Empty Words" is an example of some changes you can see as Death progressed into the Progressive genre. The intro starts with slow guitar, leading into a heavy drum/guitar altercation and you're hit with an odd time signature. Now check out "Misanthrope", which takes you back to classic Death. One of the fastest fucking things I have ever heard, the guitar just kicks your ass. Yet it is like older Death, you are still hit with the fact that it is more technical and cleaner. Technicality and cleanliness are next to Godliness. The guitar on the album is just... Perfect.


I don't even need to comment on Chuck's vocals. They need no introduction. The best vocalist I have ever heard. No question. This man has held onto the same vocal for so long... I cannot believe how he did it. There must be some explanation. Everything he does is just perfect. His vocals are superb.


The bass on this album is spectacular. The intro to "Sacred Serenity" blew me away. It has changed yet again though. Now I feel like it has a more technical feel, and it is not as loud on this album. It does a perfect job of being in perfect volume. Loud enough to hear, but not loud enough as to drown out everything else.


The drums for Death I think has been it's biggest change. I don't know how the man does it. Some of the most technical drums I have ever heard. Very good, amazing sound. Perfect volume. Odd time signatures blossom, and are done flawlessly. Truly incredible.


Now, this is a fucking masterpiece. I cannot think of anything wrong with it. Tons of variety, you're treated with tons of different styles. That's what make this album so great. The fact that these guys keep making insane albums without ever getting dull is awesome. I don't know how to explain the band Death. Gods. Just... Gods. I truly recommend that you pick up this album. If you're disappointed... Pfff, yeah right.