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Rating: 1990: the golden era of Death metal had begun. Thanks to works of the caliber of Leprosy, Altars of Madness, and Consuming Impulse, the genre was growing and becoming popular, ready for an unexpected yet triumphant explosion. Born in Florida from the mind of Chuck Schuldiner, Death metal saw among its most illustrious bands the likes of Death, Morbid Angel, Deicide, and Obituary. The latter distinguished themselves from their renowned colleagues as the creators of a slower and more obsessive Death metal (if slowness can even be mentioned): it's no coincidence that in subsequent years we will see works with Doom influences (among all, The End Complete).
After a striking debut in 1989 (Slowly We Rot), the band attempted another strike the following year. After replacing guitarist Allen West with the legendary James Murphy (known for his collaborations with bands such as Death, Cancer, and Testament), the group retreats to the legendary Morrisound Studios in Tampa to record one of the most influential albums in the history of Death metal: Cause of Death. With the help of the legendary Scott Burns, the guys create a true masterpiece, where the standout feature is the majestic production dominated by guitars, with a granite and penetrating tone that would become the Obituary trademark.
The work is a concentrate of pure Death metal without many compromises: direct as a stone thrown between the eyes. Lightning-fast guitar riffs alternated with excellent sustained chords; impeccable and precise drumming (listen to the double bass acceleration in Turned Inside Out); rotten, inimitable, and sometimes unintelligible growl while the dear bassist of the moment just serves to make up the numbers. The album opens in the best way with the dark Infected, where we notice John Tardy's tendency to focus on three words: rot, die, kill (a bit repetitive...). The opener is followed by Body Bag, which continues in this style, albeit with a less damned rhythm. After these two excellent songs comes one of the band's most famous tracks, as well as of all Death metal: Chopped in Half, a claustrophobic song and a Death anthem, somewhat like a Maze of Torment. At this point, another great song: Circle of the Tyrants, a cover of Celtic Frost, here revisited in a faster and heavier key, as the style of this band dictates; undoubtedly one of the highest points of the album. The excellent cover is succeeded by Dying, a somewhat boring track that feels like filler. Fortunately, Find the Arise, a very violent and fast song, comes to revitalize it all. Now we reach the final trio, beginning with the title-track: seemingly slow rhythms that become faster to then fade into Memories Remain, a slow and tragic track, preluding a grand finale. Yes, because the album closes with one of the band's most famous tracks: Turned Inside Out, the best song of the album, not coincidentally placed at the end (dulcis in fundo...). This song is legend: the riffs are brilliant, the solo too, and then that damn pause that keeps you on edge before the music returns, this time with a killer riff, conceived brilliantly. A truly superior song, also for the performance of the Tardy brothers: John seems more inspired than ever, while Donald gives his best.
What else to add? Cause of Death is a homogeneous and well-played record, slightly different from conventional Death metal. I highly recommend it to lovers of the genre who have never heard it or to those who are getting acquainted with Death metal and are in search of a powerful and energetic work.
Tracklist Lyrics 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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