DEATH — The Sound of Perseverance (review)

DEATH — The Sound of Perseverance album cover

Album · 1998 · Technical Death Metal

3.5/5 · 2010-09-10
Stooge

Here we have the last studio album released by Death. With an overall impressive discography to live up to, this album holds its own.

Two key areas have stayed constant for the band from their previous album, the masterful Symbolic. Jim Morris returns as the producer, resulting in another top-notch release in terms of sound quality. Although the lineup has changed once again, bandleader Chuck Schuldiner always manages to surround himself with talent, adding guitarist Shannon Hamm, bassist Scott Clendenin, and drummer Richard Christy this time around.

One main difference in this album has to do with Chuck’s vocals. They are significantly higher pitched than on other Death albums. In a way, I guess they lean a bit more towards black metal vocals. It’s would probably take a little adjusting to for some people, but since this was the first Death album I ever listened to, it’s not too big an obstacle. I will say that I do prefer his voice on the other Death albums of the 1990s.

This album is not short of great riffs. Some of my favorites include the intro to “Flesh And The Power It Holds”, the main guitar melody in “To Forgive Is To Suffer”, and pretty much any riff in “Spirit Crusher”. “Voice of the Soul” marks the first appearance of an instrumental track since “Cosmic Sea” on the Human album, and doesn’t disappoint as a nice melodic break in the middle of an otherwise crushingly heavy album. All the material is, for the most part, enjoyable (with “A Moment of Clarity” being of least interest). However, many of the tracks seem to run a bit longer than necessary. I’d say pretty much any song that runs over six minutes long (excluding the Judas Priest cover “Painkiller”) could be improved by taking out some of the repetitive sections.

This album was re-released a few years ago with a DVD performance of the band “Live at Cottbus” in 1998. It’s probably easier to find these days that the original version, but don’t lose any sleep if you don’t obtain the Deluxe Edition. There is around 50 minutes of concert footage, but it’s a bit on the raw side, and there is some higher quality stuff that you can buy instead.

The Sound of Perseverance is probably my least favorite of Death’s final four studio albums. However, it is still an excellent release and would look great in any metal fan’s collection!

more than 2 years ago
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Pekka wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Live in LA is the only thing from Death that I've really listened to, and I love the vocals on that one. Spirit Crusher especially.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Sadly they did something to his voice in the live setting too. I saw Death on the Symbolic tour and Chuck sounded awful. Just like he does on The Sound of Perseverance. It´s not a natural thing.

Stooge wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I think it was more of his voice changing than processing. I remember him sounding similar on the Live in L.A. DVD.

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I pretty much agree with your review. Not my favorite either. For me the vocals are really an obstacle. I can´t believe they would process Chuck´s otherwise great vocals to hell.