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For the second time, I am disappointed by the morbid idleness of the metalhead reviewers on DeBaser who review albums, don't get me wrong, excellent and excellently reviewed, but inexorably overlook "The Albums," those masterpieces that have made, are making, and will make the history of our favorite genre. So, after patching up the "Judas Priest patch" (and now cliff pisses black eheheh), I am getting ready to fix that Obituary patch, by reviewing one of those masterpieces too often underestimated and, sacrilege, abandoned in oblivion by too many people who enthusiastically call themselves "metalheads" (give me a break). You can't even imagine how honored I feel to review such an album.
Undoubtedly one of the four Floridian Death Metal Masterpieces alongside Morbid Angel, Death, and Deicide, Obituary had left the American Deathsters speechless with a killer debut under the name "Slowly We Rot," an album that gave the genre the necessary boost to evolve from the cocoon it resided in, to emerge and become a magnificent blood-sucking bat (the butterfly was far less poetic and much less brutal), masterfully mixing technique, anger, and speed. In 1991, after the addition of a "certain" James Murphy, fresh from the "Deathata" of "Spiritual Healing," our band attempted the big hit again by releasing this "Cause Of Death," which must have also pleased Max from Sepultura, as he wears the T-shirt on the Back photo of "Arise," where you find the Tracklist. Fundamentally, the album is a new and refreshed reinterpretation of what was already heard on the previous one, but giving it new luster with a surprising Songwriting that showed that besides the Gulf War, something else was happening in America in those years.
The Death Metal movement was indeed taking shape, thanks also to epochal works such as "Blessed Are The Sick," "Human," and "Deicide": to these "Cause Of Death" was forcefully added (and anyway "Human" was the best eheheheh). Tremendously raw, sick, dark, and stunning: "Cause Of Death" confirmed what the insiders had expressed about the Band, though waiting for the confirmation of the talent that animated our band. The album received acclaim both from specialized critics and Headbangers who with all those great bands were increasingly hungry for Metal, and they welcomed the album just as metalheads would welcome Chuck Schuldiner at home (R.I.P., You Rule Dude!). How can you blame them? "Chopped In Half" first of all, perhaps the best track as it is the most expressive and representative, became a true Death Metal anthem, standing on the same step as various "Lack Of Comprehension," and presenting to American doctors, who were already sensing the crisis, hordes of metalheads with jaws wide open shouting: "Obituary! Obituary!", and they promptly replied: "What the hell do you want, there's no morgue here."
Vicious growler, insanely fast riffs, impeccable drummer, fast and lethal guitarists (Murphy: a name, a guarantee) and, as unfortunately happens in this genre, a pleated and incapable bassist who however vanishes in front of the magnificence of the Songs. Not least, foolish lyrics that however, as said by one of the Band's members, "make the atmosphere darker and more sulfurous without inciting satanism" (eeeeeeeeh!!!). The Songs, indeed: there’s no point in listing them. It would be an offense and a waste of time. This album is a real experience: one of those experiences that, instead of being recounted as I'm doing, should simply be lived firsthand. What else to say? Nothing, just let the album speak for itself. For the second time, the target is fully hit and split in two by Obituary's power. But on this, who still had doubts?
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Infected (05:35)
Rot beneath below
Killing the chance to die... the rising of the dead
The pain denies the soul
Even after
The killing gently
Dissection of the light... the rotting of the soul
The pain realize the wounds
... lives
You light the soul
Killing ones they save... the rotting of the soul
Dying of the pain
Killing the soul
Killing send you to your grave
Dying soon the one they save
Tearing rid you of your limbs
Infection soon sets in
Peeling rid you of your skin... infection!
Coming soon the end of life
Die... cure you of infliction
02 Body Bag (05:51)
You're rising
Cure you of the dead
You're dying
Live beyond the way
Falling thru the gates
Scavenge you
With the darkening light
Thru the falling going low
Thru the death of those
The dying ...
We're dying
Healing of the one
Falling of the days
Charring in the sun
We're dying
Killing for the need
Violence of the ways
Slowly bleed
Killing for the need
Rising of the dead
The falling ways
The killing for the need
.. darkened light
The rising of the dead
With the darkening light
03 Chopped in Half (03:46)
Chopped in half.
Feel the blood spill from your mouth.
With rotting ways comes destiny.
Feel the soul taking over.
Bleed...
Chopped in half.
Feel the blood spill from your mouth.
With rotting ways comes destiny.
Feel the soul taking over.
Bleed...
Chopped in half.
Feel the blood spill from your mouth.
With rotting ways comes destiny.
Feel the soul taking over.
Bleed...
04 Circle of the Tyrants (04:27)
After the battle is over
And the sand's drunken the blood
All what there remains
Is the bitterness of delusion
The immortality of the Gods
Sits at their side
As they leave the walls behind
To reach the jewels gleam
The days have come
When the steel will rule
And upon his head
A crown of gold
Your hand wields the might
The tyrant's the precursor
You carry the will
As the morning is near
I sing the ballads
Of victory and defeat
I hear the tales
Of frozen mystery
The new kingdoms rise
by the circle of the tyrants
In the land of darkness
the warrior, that was me
Grotesque glory
none will (ever) see them fall
And hunts and wars
are like everlasting shadows
Where the winds cannot reach
the tyrant's might was born
And often I look back
with tears in my eyes
Grotesque glory
none will (ever) see them fall
And hunts and wars
are like everlasting shadows
05 Dying (04:32)
We're dying
For our souls to learn
We're dying
For our souls to burn
We're dying
For our souls to learn
We're dying
07 Cause of Death (05:37)
With the dying body dead.
With the dying the coming rotting.
With the dying the coming rot.
Rot in hell religious one
Cold fate the chosen son.
Find the darkness kill the day.
You said you'd never cease saying.
We're the cause of death.
Find the one and kill the need.
You're the one to make us bleed.
Find the darkness little one.
I said you'd never cease now
We're the cause of death.
Rot in hell religious one
Cold fate the chosen son.
Find the darkness, kill the day.
You said you'd never cease saying.
With the darkness we arise.
Your hell is denied.
The powers below.
Reality's here.
With the darkness we arise.
Your hell is denied.
The powers below.
Reality's here.
08 Memories Remain (03:44)
You're destined to die
Life goes on
Even after death
Killing for the need
09 Turned Inside Out (04:56)
We're coming
Rotting in the wastes below
We're turned inside out
Beyond the darkness we arise
We're turned inside out
Beyond the fearless cries
We're turned inside out
Beyond the darkness we arise
We're turned inside out
Beyond the piercing cries
We're turned inside out
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Other reviews
By JohnHolmes
Cause of Death is a homogeneous and well-played record, slightly different from conventional Death metal.
Turned Inside Out is legend: the riffs are brilliant, the solo too, and then that damn pause that keeps you on edge before the music returns.
