SPIRITUAL HEALING

Following the two previous thrash releases, Spiritual Healing is the first album where the musicality begins to venture down a different road for Death. For a start, the lyrical content is focussed on social issues as opposed to the violence on Scream Bloody Gore and Leprosy. The song structuring has taken a more technical path, something that would develop intensely with Death throughout the 90s.

Living Monstrosity is a string opener, a song about a somewhat deformed individual and the daily hurdles they must surpass, that told in a more sinister manner, someone with 'no hands' and 'half a brain' - nice. It becomes apparent that the album contains some of Death's heaviest riffs. The guitars are down-tuned to hell and the crunch of the chords in the intro to Altering the Future is a perfect example. Where Scream Bloody Gore has Zombie Ritual and Leprosy has Pull the Plug, this album has its title track, all seven minutes-forty of it; a monster anthem that has a killer chorus partnered with one of Death's finest riffs. A hair-raising roar from Schuldiner sets the song alight as the drums thrust the chorus into the album's strongest moment - a must hear. Low Life is an aimed attack from Chuck at those who 'use up the air that others could breathe', a strong statement from another strong song. The closing tracks continue the form shown previously, Killing Spree being the better of the two, a fast-paced thrash number that ends the album in its furious style.

The production quality should be mentioned, it being notably superior to the previous albums, gone is the heavy reverb and things have become a lot clearer than before. Spiritual Healing is another great album from Death, the harsh thrash textures now starting to blend with progressive tones that would be further exploited on the following release, Human. So, with some definite highlights in store, Spiritual Healing won't disappoint. A very good album, not quite matching the brilliance of Leprosy, but a vital stepping stone for the change of direction that builds upon the band's developing musical style.

Top Three Tracks:

1) Spiritual Healing 2) Altering the Future 3) Low Life