Written by Roman Doez on 25.02.2022 at 23:02

The more I listen to Symbolic and the less I like it tbf, the only songs I still like on the album are without judgement and crystal mountain, the other ones just don't do anything to me anymore

Yeah, I know what you mean. As the first Death (and death metal) album I heard, it is very special to me personally, but I dont listen to it that often anymore. If I listen to Death, I usually go for Spiritual Healing, Leprosy, or Human.
Like I said, the only song that I really don't like anymore is Zero Tolerance, so my vote won't drop from a 10 to a 9 yet. But the album has dropped on my favorites list (from 5th to 13th place)
One main thing is the vocals. I find they were perfect on Spiritual Healing. Here they are transitioning to the shrieking of Sound of Perseverance. It's not really bad, just kind of jarring if one compares it to the earlier styles.

Written by F3ynman on 26.02.2022 at 00:54

One main thing is the vocals. I find they were perfect on Spiritual Healing. Here they are transitioning to the shrieking of Sound of Perseverance. It's not really bad, just kind of jarring if one compares it to the earlier styles.

I definitely agree, I don't really like the vocals on ITP and Symbolic whereas the ones on the first 3 albums are amazing

The drums and the lyrics are definitely the highlights of this album, along with some solos. Amazing album, one of the best in some regards, but can get boring with time.

Written by Furiator on 15.06.2022 at 20:52

one of the best in some regards, but can get boring with time.

Slightly odd thing to write after awarding an album 10/10 but I suppose any album could become boring if you spin it 100 times in a row so there's that..

One of the best written and executed metal albums in history indeed, but the atmosphere and awesome vocals of their early stuff is severly lacking.

Written by Growing on 24.02.2023 at 09:52

but the atmosphere and awesome vocals of their early stuff is severely lacking.

Agreed. The first three Death albums are still my favourites. I remember seeing Leprosy on a wall shelf in a local record shop, and having to buy it immediately because of the awesome sleeve. It opened a whole new world of metal to me.

Yeah, ig it's too bad that their early stuff didn't have better lyrics, like Metallica, Sepultura or Megadeth had, because while the music it's awesome, it makes their later stuff sound more mature. Tbh in a way the lyrics are kinda a bit of an issue here as well,because they are good on their own but seem somewhat awkward for a metal record that sounds mostly angry, compared to the above mentioned bands who had lyrics on social issue but still fit the aesthetics of metal.

I'm debating whether I should rate this a 9 or a 10. Listening to it just now again, it definitely warrants a near-perfect score. But, nowadays I rarely find the urge to listen to it again.

It was my gateway to death metal, and I'll always remember that, but I think I'll move my vote down to a high 9.

Just having a discussion with some mates about Death; I have very positive memories of them and use to spin the albums from Human onwards a lot in my early Uni years, but have very little inclination to relisten to them, even Symbolic - funny to see similar sentiments in the comment just before mine^

I wonder if Metal Hammer still existed, would it still rate it 3.5/5 as they did in 1995.

This is the best metal album ever made along with Blackwater Park. It's a near perfect presentation of creative songwriting and highly skilled musicianship, while still catchy, memorable and full of soul. 9.5/10

Metal perfection...

One of my all time fav albums, no doubt

This is one of the most overrated albums of all time. The guitar work is great, but I just get bored with all this progressive crap. For me, anything progressive can be really good or a chore to listen to. I'm sorry, but I just got bored with this one. I know my opinion is unpopular, but I just have to say it. I see the appeal of this album, it just doesn't appeal to my personal tastes. The opening title track is pretty good, however.

Revisited this after a while (judging by my last comment, probably after 2 years). I wasn't sure if I'd like it, since I lost interest in Death and remember the vocals were a bit iffy on my last listen. But, it was really great to hear it again! Nicely heavy, groovy, complex, with some melody too. Still a classic

Hot take, but I was never the biggest fan of Symbolic. By 1995, progressive death metal was already a well established subgenre, and Death didn't really expand it from the death metal framework. The biggest feat I can give to this album, is how it incorporates more traditional heavy metal soloing, while also escaping the typical for the gothenburg scene melodeath sound. But I still think those heavy metallisms were better put in Individual Thought Patterns, or The Fragile Art Of Existence, to be even more specific. More elitist users will burn me at the stake for this, but I even prefer Spiritual Healing and The Sound Of Perseverance with all the flaws they have.

Written by BurntEmbodiment on 04.05.2025 at 19:10

Hot take, but I was never the biggest fan of Symbolic. By 1995, progressive death metal was already a well established subgenre, and Death didn't really expand it from the death metal framework. The biggest feat I can give to this album, is how it incorporates more traditional heavy metal soloing, while also escaping the typical for the gothenburg scene melodeath sound. But I still think those heavy metallisms were better put in Individual Thought Patterns, or The Fragile Art Of Existence, to be even more specific. More elitist users will burn me at the stake for this, but I even prefer Spiritual Healing and The Sound Of Perseverance with all the flaws they have.

Both Spiritual Healing & TSOP are monumental albums. To be fair, I think Spiritual has to be their most underrated album. I largely prefer it over SBG and Leprosy tbh. Hate me Idc.

Written by Guib on 04.05.2025 at 19:39

Both Spiritual Healing & TSOP are monumental albums. To be fair, I think Spiritual has to be their most underrated album. I largely prefer it over SBG and Leprosy tbh. Hate me Idc.

Spiritual Healing is their most overhated in some circles. It has very unorthodox guitarwork, that sounds nothing that was done before or since this album. There was one band that tried to essentially resurrect this sound, I'll try to find it and post it here. As for TSOP, it had terrible influence on the technical death metal genre, turning many of the bands into aimless wankfest, but I still think that in a vacuum it's pretty decent. I think by that moment in their career, Chuck didn't want to play death metal anymore and wanted to do more traditional metal. One of the demos for TSOP even featured clean vocals (I think Chuck himself sang on it). The end effect isn't bad by itself, but I feel that by incorporating influences from other metal subgenres, they watered down what was essential in their sound.

^ I love Spiritual Healing too. James Murphy's guitar solos really give it a unique energy that makes it stand out in the Death discog.

Written by BurntEmbodiment on 04.05.2025 at 19:49

Spiritual Healing is their most overhated in some circles. It has very unorthodox guitarwork, that sounds nothing that was done before or since this album. There was one band that tried to essentially resurrect this sound, I'll try to find it and post it here. As for TSOP, it had terrible influence on the technical death metal genre, turning many of the bands into aimless wankfest, but I still think that in a vacuum it's pretty decent. I think by that moment in their career, Chuck didn't want to play death metal anymore and wanted to do more traditional metal. One of the demos for TSOP even featured clean vocals (I think Chuck himself sang on it). The end effect isn't bad by itself, but I feel that by incorporating influences from other metal subgenres, they watered down what was essential in their sound.

Idk about watered down, they were experimenting and that's good, I like bands that don't stagnate into "their sound". Most of the time I find this approach ends up creating stale and uninspiring music. Then again, Im also one of those who enjoys the "wankfest" of modern TDM just as much as the oldschool sound of bands like Atheist, Nocturnus and Atrocity. Maybe he didnt want to do death metal anymore, maybe he just didnt like doing to same thing again and again. We'll never know.

Im curious about the band you're talking about though, trying to sound like SH. If you do find it, please share.

Written by Guib on 04.05.2025 at 19:56

Im curious about the band you're talking about though, trying to sound like SH. If you do find it, please share.

Okay found it, the band is Gruesome.

Written by BurntEmbodiment on 04.05.2025 at 20:00

Written by Guib on 04.05.2025 at 19:56

Im curious about the band you're talking about though, trying to sound like SH. If you do find it, please share.

Okay found it, the band is Gruesome.

Thanks, I'll check this out. Very curious now.