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Rating: Have you... have you ever experienced that feeling when you're faced with something, whether beautiful or terrible, that's much larger than you, and its grandeur takes your breath away because you realize that some people can truly be defined as giants… well, do you know that feeling? I experienced it while listening to the latest chapter in the discography of a band that, over the years, has managed to encapsulate everything the concept of music should contain: beauty, refinement, sophistication.
The album I'm talking about is "The Sound Of Perseverance," dated September 15, 1998, the last (master)piece of the never too lamented Death, a group of that giant, genius (or call him what you will) that was the good Chuck Schuldiner.
This "T.S.O.P." is a very complex work that encapsulates the entire musical journey of the mastermind, as well as the permanent band member, and explores the most diverse musical fields, from death, the true backbone of the album, to progressive metal, transitioning with extreme fluidity from tense, almost tragic moments, highlighted especially by Schuldiner's scream which on this album becomes more resolute and cutting than ever before, to much more relaxed moments, as if they were a ray of sunshine in the middle of a storm, thanks to melodic solutions that captivate from the first listen.
The album comes across as extremely technical, with a great quantity of complex solos and riffs, always supported by Mr. Scott Clendenin's bass and the drums, this time more intricate and less "broken" (forgive the term, I don't know how else to describe it) than what had been heard in the previous works of the Floridian band (Tampa is Chuck's hometown): one appreciates compositions such as the opener "Scavenger of Human Sorrow," almost entirely played on sudden rhythmic changes and guitar solos, but also pieces like "To Forgive Is To Suffer" (a true masterpiece of the album according to the writer); at the same time, one also appreciates the more reflective moments of the piece and in this regard, it's impossible not to mention the 3 minutes and 42 seconds of the instrumental track entitled "Voice Of The Soul", where the most melodic side of the band appears, presenting itself as a completely instrumental piece in which the acoustic guitar accompanies the electric one, weaving a truly moving melody.
It is noteworthy, more out of journalistic duty than any particular beauty, the cover of the famous "PainKiller" by Judas Priest (here offered in a Death Metal version), which, although not reaching the quality level of the other tracks on the album, proves to be convincing and not out of place.
I must say that this album was one of those that drew me closer to such a complex genre as death metal, not only because of this way of understanding it, closer to my tastes (as mentioned, there are various progressive incursions), but also because each single track manages to exude emotions from every note and especially from a voice, that of Chuck, which will remain, precisely for his perseverance in continuing to do what he truly loved, in the history of world heavy metal.
I'm sorry, I know this review was already out there, but I really wanted to make it, maybe not all of you feel the need for it, but I did.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Scavenger of Human Sorrow (06:54)
What pain will it take
To satisfy your sick appetite
Go in for the kill
Always in sight-prey
The time always right-feast
Feed on the pain-taste
Sorrow made flesh-sweet
Live how you want
Just don't feed on me
If you doubt what I say
I will make you believe
Shallow are words from those who starve
For a dream not their own to slash and scar
Big words, Small mind
Behind the pain you will find
A scavenger of human sorrow
Scavenger
Abstract theory the weapon of choice
Used by scavenger of human sorrow
Scavenger
So you have traveled far across the sea
To spread yor written brand of misery
03 Spirit Crusher (06:44)
It comes from the depths
Of a place unknown to the
Keeper of dreams
If it could then it would steal
The sun and the moon from the sky
Beware
Human at sight, Monster at heart
Don't let it inside it could
Tear you right apart
No guilt, It feeds in plain sight
Spirit Crusher
Stay strong and hold on tight
Spirit Crusher
Speaking in killing words
The vicious kind that crush and kill
No mercy, Its pleasure to taste
The blood that it bled
When it's time to feed to fulfill
The need to consume a breath
Some will rise standing tall
Breathing out all the breath from
The voice of a soul
08 A Moment of Clarity (07:22)
I would describe it as an invisible darkness
Casting a shadow, A blinding black
Guarded by hope, My soul is kept from
The bloody claws
Look beyond, What vision lets me see
Time after time, Unneeded misery
Holding tight to my dreams
I own no price for you
I grip them tight and hope for sight
Open my eyes wide to see a moment of clarity
Confusion gone, It's in your hands
Your turn to ask why
Life is like a mystery
With many clues, But with few anwers
To tell us what it is that we can do to look
For messages that keep us from the truth
09 Painkiller (06:03)
[JUDAS PRIEST cover]
Faster than a bullet
Terrifying scream
Enraged and full of anger
He's half man and half machine
Rides the Metal Monster
Breathing smoke and fire
Closing in with vengeance soaring high
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Planets devastated
Mankind's on its knees
A saviour comes from out the skies
In answer to their pleas
Through boiling clouds of thunder
Blasting bolts fo steel
Evils going under deadly wheels
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Faster than a lazer bullet
Louder than an atom bomb
Chromium plated boiling metal
Brighter than a thousand suns
Flying high on rapture
Stronger free and brave
Nevermore encaptured
They've been brought back from the grave
With mankind ressurrected
Forever to survive
Returns from Armageddon to the skies
He is the Painkiller
This is the Painkiller
Wings of steel Painkiller
Deadly wheels Painkiller
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Other reviews
By cliffburton86
A huge death metal masterpiece.
The hope of everyone is that from 'up there' the great Chuck continues to play his guitar and continues to sing death metal, as only he knew how.
By aniel
"UNIQUE in its genre!"
"Absolutely indispensable, every metalhead who loves to call themselves such must have this album."
By sweep picking
Death... the name speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
This album is full of masterpieces... complete reverence for the best metal band that has ever existed.
By sofficino
Ladies and Gentlemen, speaking ill of Death is impossible, and the most natural thing is that these guys have churned out masterpieces.
And so, this masterpiece is concluded, and thus the career of Death... has written among the most beautiful and intriguing pages in death metal.
By Painkiller
Chuck could not have left a better tangible work of his great contribution to past, present, and future metal.
'Voice Of The Soul' is an instrumental gem... no one, not even the most extreme dance music listeners, will find ugly or unlistenable.
