THE SOUND OF PERSEVERANCE

I'll start this review by saying that if you're not a fan of screeching and screams, then you might not like this album. I happen to love Chuck's high pitched screams and screeches, but even for those who don't.... I suggest you give it a chance before saying no to this album. Chuck's voice has gone more high pitched, but it doesn't derail the awesomeness of the music one bit. This is probably the second best Death album, only beaten by Symbolic, the previous masterpiece. In terms of lyrics "The Sound Of Perseverance" is even another time an improvement in comparsion with it's predecessor. I think Chuck's lyrics only get better and better over time with his music.

This album deals out a lot of everything. There is a fair share of chunking, speed, and melody to go around for everyone. The drums on this album are some of the best I've heard on any Death album. Chuck made a good decision to pick up Richard Christy. From the first ten seconds of listening, you can tell that he's a very intense drummer, on an album with very intense drumming. It goes not as beyond as Gene Hoglan's unreached performances on the previous two albums but still are not describable by words.

The guitar work is superb as usual...dealing out bits of technicality, melody, speed, and heaviness. The bass on the album is okay, but I liked Death better with Steve D. Now I'll review each song on the album.

Track one: Scavenger of Human Sorrow

Excellent opening with the jaw dropping drum work from Richard Christy. For the first little bit, this song seems more like a chunked song, but it gradually gets faster and more technical. I'd say this is probably the most technical song on the album. It's also one of my favorites because of the melody and technicality it delivers. The lyrics are also catchy and stick very well with the listener, usually.

Track two: Bite the Pain

The opening guitar riff gives the feeling of moving into a bottomless pit. This song is speedier after the first couple of riffs, and in the first few lyrics Chuck really pushes his scream hard, which I love. Good song, but there isn't much else to say about it except for what I've already said. It's good, but there isn't much to say.

Track three: Spirit Crusher

The opening bass riff is simple, but it gives a good unsettling feeling, as if something is about to come up and smash you in the face. Then, low and behold, the music breaks into the moment and crushes everything in its path. This song isn't based on speed as much as Bite the Pain or Scavenger of Human Sorrow, it's more based on chunk riffing. There is some speed here and there (especially in the solo), but it's more of a heavy song than a fast one. One of Death's catchiest songs.

Track four: Story To Tell

This one seems a bit like a combination of Bite the Pain and Spirit Crusher. It has some chunky moments, but it also has its fast moments. I'd say it's fast chunky, if that makes any sense. Wonderful song by all means especially the trem picking melodies.

Track five: Flesh and The Power It Holds

To me, this is one of the weirdest songs on the CD. The opening is catchy, and seems like it would be more of a heavy song, but it's actually pretty fast paced after the opening. I can hear more bass in this song than most of the others, which makes me happy. The solos and trem picked melodies are simple astounding in this song.

Track six: Voice of the Soul

This is an instrumental track with both an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar. If there were a battle between any and all instrumentals, this song would take the cake. This song is simply amazing. It feels much more meaningful than the bands other instrumental track, "Cosmic Sea". There are no drums in this song, just guitars.

When I sat down and really took the whole song in, it almost moved me to tears. It's got more of a paced melody than speed, but there is some speed there. The melody is what really makes this song sing without lyrics. Excellent song.

Track seven: To Forgive Is To Suffer

Here we have another track that opens with Richard Christy pounding away on the kit, then comes the rest of the band with heavy riffs, then quickly goes to the classic melodic death style that we know and love Death for. If I had to choose, I'd probably say this is the second most technical song on the album. It reminds me of Scavenger of Human Sorrow, except faster. There is even some fast tapping near the end, which fades out nicely after that.

Track eight: A Moment of Clarity

In my opinion, this is the most over looked song that Death has ever done. I can't say that I know why, because it's an awesome track. The bass in this song really gives it sort of an "out there" feeling...as if there is some kind of secret sound wave emitting from the song. Speed isn't really a property of this song, it seems more mid paced and chunked. It's not slow by any means, but it's not fast either.

Track nine: Painkiller

This is a cover of the Judas Priest song, "Painkiller". On this song in particular, I notice Chuck really pushed his voice to his ultimate limits. I was astounded that such screams and screeches could ever come from a human being. I actually happen to like this cover more than the original song.

TSOP is Death's swansong and Chuck Schuldiner's funeral album. If you happen to be the kind of person who doesn't like screechy vocals, you should either learn to over look it, or love it. I say that because if you ignore this album because of the vocals, then you are missing some very special music. I wasn't too keen on the Sound of Perseverance vocals at first, but I learned to fall in love with it, because at the time I hadn't heard vocals like it before. The album is worth every penny of your money and sets an end to Chuck's ambitious mission to progress DEATH metal. How successful he was and this record will remain as his final gift to the fans and the Progressive Death Metal chapter. R.I.P. Chuck!

Album rating: 9.5/10 points = 94 % on MPV scale = 5/5 stars

point-system: 0 - 3 points = 1 star / 3.5 - 5.5 points = 2 stars / 6 - 7 points = 3 stars / 7.5 - 8.5 points = 4 stars / 9 - 10 points = 5 stars