OBITUARY — Cause of Death (review)

Album · 1990 · Death Metal

4/5 · 2021-03-21
UMUR

"Cause of Death" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, Florida based death metal act Obituary. The album was released through Roadrunner Records in September 1990. It´s the successor to "Slowly We Rot" from 1989 and features two lineup changes since the debut album as bassist Daniel Tucker has been replaced by Frank Watkins and lead guitarist Allen West has been replaced by James Murphy. The latter fresh out of a stint with Death for whom he played on the "Spiritual Healing (1990)" album. While Watkins would prove to be a long-standing member of Obituary, Murphy was out the door almost as soon as he had recorded his parts for "Cause of Death", subsequently joining UK death metal act Cancer, and soon after that forming his own band Disincarnate.

"Cause of Death" was recorded on a 24-track recorder compared to the 8-track machine used on "Slowly We Rot (1989)", and as a result "Cause of Death" features a superior sound quality to the debut album. All instruments and vocals are well balaneced and audible in the mix, and although the album is less raw and savage sounding than the debut album, it´s still a crushingly heavy, brutal, and effecful sounding death metal release. The production is credited to Scott Burns and Obituary.

Stylistically Obituary have become more structured and determined in terms of their overall sound and style and they have become more conscious about varying the elements which make up their songs and about writing more memorable material. "Cause of Death" is predominantly a very heavy and slow- to mid-paced affair, with only a few faster paced sections here and there. The re-recording of "Find the Arise" (the original version first appeared on the 1987 "Raging Death" various artists compilation album) is probably one of the most fast-paced tracks on the album, and even that track features heavy sections, and isn´t really that fast-paced when it comes down to it.

"Cause of Death" opens with "Infected", which is one of the most crushingly heavy and brutal death metal tracks ever put to tape. A slow and brutal downtuned riff and shortly after a simple drum beat open the song and then Murphy makes his presence heard with an earth shattering screaming guitar solo, before John Tardy´s distinct sounding aggressive growling vocals appear. It has to be one of the most effectful and memorable album openings on a death metal album yet. The heavy groove laden "Body Bag" comes next, featuring a heavy and memorable main riff and a commanding Tardy in top form. Other highlights include "Chopped in Half", the Celtic Frost cover "Circle of the Tyrants", and "Turned Inside Out", but "Cause of Death" is a remarkably consistent quality release.

Obituary have a unique style, which is created by their heavy grooves, distinct sounding guitar tone, and John Tardy´s distinct sounding aggressive growling vocals. The sparse lyrics are in the horror/gore theme universe, but they are more or less just random words repeated over and over again. In that respect the vocals work more like an extra intrument than regular vocals with recognisable lyric lines. Despite this rather unique take on performing vocals, "Cause of Death" features several hook laden vocal parts. Sometimes less is more...

"Cause of Death" is upon conclusion a strong sophomore studio album by Obituary and a natural step forward from "Slowly We Rot (1989)". Some prefer the rawness and savage nature of the debut album to this more detailed and varied follow-up, but "Cause of Death" is to my ears the stronger of the two. If I have to make one criticism towards the material on the album, it would be that some of the instrumental parts, when Murphy isn´t playing one of his many incredibly well played guitar solos, are a little empty and last too long. The riffs on those sections simply aren´t interesting enough. Still "Cause of Death" is a seminal old school death metal release and a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.