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Death - Symbolic



9.3 | 2425 votes |
Release date: 21 March 1995
Style: Progressive death metal, Progressive thrash metal

Owners:

2723 have it
226 want it
3 trade it


01. Symbolic
02. Zero Tolerance
03. Empty Words
04. Sacred Serenity
05. 1,000 Eyes
06. Without Judgement
07. Crystal Mountain
08. Misanthrope
09. Perennial Quest
10. Symbolic Acts [instrumental demo version]
11. Zero Tolerance [instrumental version]
12. Crystal Mountain [instrumental version]
13. Misanthrope [instrumental version]
14. Symbolic Acts [demo]

Top 20 albums of 1995: 1
Top 200 albums of all time: 4

Additional info
Produced, engineered and mixed by Jim Moore for D.U.A.F. productions.
Co-produced by Chuck Schuldiner.
Recorded and mixed at Morrisound Recording, Tampla, FL.
Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC.
Cover art: René Miville.
Band photography: René Miville.
Design: Patty Mooney.

Produced for reissue by Monte Conner.
Project coordinator: Steven Hartong.
Remastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, NYC, December 2007.
Bonus tracks taken from Symbolic pre-production demos. Produced by Chuck Schuldiner.

Guest review by
Yanko
Rating:
9.0
So, after probably the worst album in Death's career, they have taken enough time off (two years) before releasing this one. And it is a very rapid change from the previous one, leaving many of the fans really puzzled.

Chuck has once more changed his vocals to more screaming and thus getting them to what they will sound three years later at a steady and slow pace. His singing isn't very convincing and could be easily be labeled as rather ordinary thrash singing, because of his voice lacking the personal touch of the man performing them.

Read more ››
published 15.09.2003 | Comments (33)

Guest review by
K✞ulu
Rating:
9.7
1995 was very generous to the metal world with its great releases. One of them was Death's 6th studio album called Symbolic, a true masterpiece and a classic without a doubt. Everything about this music piece impresses to the very marrow of the bones: the riffs, the leads, the bass, the drums, the lyrics and the vocals. The album is even more versatile and progressive than the previous two, with most songs running for over 5 minutes.

Read more ››
published 26.06.2008 | Comments (22)

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Comments: 101   Visited by: 3934 users
26.02.2022 - 00:54
Rating: 9
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
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.
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26.02.2022 - 12:07
Rating: 5
Roman Doez
Hallucigenia
Written by F3ynman2000 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
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15.06.2022 - 20:52
Rating: 10
Furiator

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.
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16.06.2022 - 13:56
gavdann

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..
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24.02.2023 - 09:52
Rating: 9
Growing

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.
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24.02.2023 - 09:59
gavdann

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.
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24.02.2023 - 10:13
Rating: 9
Growing

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.
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31.03.2023 - 05:08
Rating: 9
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
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.
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24.05.2023 - 16:47
Rating: 9
musclassia

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^
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27.08.2023 - 17:56
Rating: 9
cynicoren

I wonder if Metal Hammer still existed, would it still rate it 3.5/5 as they did in 1995.
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18.12.2023 - 02:31
Rating: 9
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
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