Symbolic

Legendary Chuck Shuldiner gathers a group of relatively unknown musicians save for star percussionist Gene Hoglan to deliver the tightest, most complex, and most profound album released ever. The tagline ‘progressive death metal’ often used to describe this album is a mere overlook of the fine features which overrule it. This album has the ferocity of death metal, lyrical profoundness and complexity of progressive metal, the technical show off of thrash metal, catchiness of power metal, atmosphere of symphonic music, and subtlety of classical music. And all of this is done with such superior and matured musical sense that will put any musician in history to shame.

Let us get this thing straight gentlemen, Gene Hoglan is the drummer, and his drumming is practically out of this world. The complex song writing gives him so much room to breathe and such flexibility with his kit that you sense he probably was suffocating during Time Does Not Heal sessions. His complex timed fills are no less thundering than a raging cyclone and will make Mike Portnoy look like Lars Ulrich. He soars above everyone like a harpy and the listeners are left dazed as he launches complex, odd timed fills after fills in a crescendo that punches through any loop holes in Neil Peart’s drum work. The guitar work of Chuck Shuldiner and Bobby Koelble is no less triumphant than that. From the first second of the album they launch an array of razor sharp, complex riffs that will scythe down hardest of the roman amours. Above all that, is extremely well composed, perfectly executed lead work which varies from being all out shredding to beautiful, melodic, atmospheric pieces which can put any Mozart or Beethoven to shame. The bass adds a nice delicate touch of atmosphere, ambiance and subtlety which is unmatched by any Leif Edling or Ralf Hubert. All of this comes together in a mix which blends all the elements perfectly and gives the album its unique identity.

From the very first riff of the album you are transported to an ocean of strong emotions which you like waves. The title track varies from being, mid paced to all out thrash in a matter of moments and the listener is left thunderstruck at the sudden pace changes which are executed razor sharply to perfection. Never does any transition seem forced or too drawn out, all of them flow into each other as serenely as a calm, peaceful stream. Above all, the track is insanely catchy and extremely memorable. The upcoming Zero Tolerance is much more mid paced track which contains an excellent hazy atmosphere till the first chorus and rightly so for the very first riff after the chorus summons destruction right before you. In all this madness you cannot help but feel a false sense of insecurity and yet you will feel peaceful especially due to the magical atmosphere during the chorus. Through the hazy clouds of uncertainty of Zero Tolerance comes the doomy acoustic riff of Empty Words which elevates the tension to the levels of uneasiness. And from the uneasiness springs out anger, which is spilled in the thundering riff which breaks the uncertain silence. Anger and rage reign as the track breaks off at good pace, which refuses to come down. Sacred Serenity is much more epic with dark atmosphere about it, especially during the little break in the middle. The rage of the previous track lowers down and the listener experiences moments of peace and some sense of security, but the musicians have yet other ideas which are clearly showcased in the abrupt ending which again builds up some tension, and forces the listeners to think and wait for what is to come.

Chaos and destruction is brought upon in all its forms in the form of 1000 Eyes with its bludgeoning riffs and sharply executed pace changes. The song takes away what little peace the listeners felt and replaces it with pure horror especially during the chorus. Fear and tension exist throughout the track as through the pupils of 1000 eyes, we have the more epic yet hammering, complex and more of a ‘track-that-forces-you-to-think type’. The listeners themselves cannot fully express the way they feel. The greatest religious epic in the form of the upcoming track, Crystal Mountain, brings back anger, some fear and to a little extent sadness. The lyrics reflect over the listener’s mind, manage to hypnotize him and force him to think over the problems expressed in the song as Schuldiner succeeds in putting a Shakespeare to shame. The thundering percussion reflects upon the mind-set of the listener and also that of the person described in the lyrics. Misanthrope is much more complex with odd time pace changes and brings back the tension of Empty Words and adds rage and anger to it. Perennial Quest brings our journey to an end with complex emotions and feelings flying around you in a whirlwind decorated by odd time pace changes, supreme atmosphere and above the excellence lyrics. The album ends with an excellent acoustic-electric solo which gives a short glimpse of all the emotions that were felt, seen, experienced throughout the album.

This album is a piece of outstanding musical achievement not only in the realms of heavy metal, but in all the world of music. You name any album or composition in history, and this album would at least give a tough fight. The subtly composed music, backed up by lethal and tight execution, and decorated with lyrics that force you to think about a hundred times after you listen to this album, is something which does not just spring up every day. In all the complex technical madness, you cannot help but feel all the things they right about. In the beastly inhuman screams of Schuldiner you will feel love, hate, fear, sadness, tension, anger no matter how much cold-hearted you may be, and that is the beauty of this album. Should you buy this album? The answer to this question may be the question, are you a human being? And if you are one, this album is a must listen for you.