REVIEW:DEATH – The Sound of Perseverance

 

DEATH – The Sound of Perseverance

Relapse Records

I doubt there are many metalheads—if any—who are into death metal and haven’t encountered DEATH’s swansong, The Sound of Perseverance. It was the first DEATH album I ever heard, and from the very beginning I was struck by its combination of extremity, beauty, and emotional depth. It has remained a personal classic ever since.

DEATH stand among the most influential bands in the history of the genre, and spending even a short amount of time with this album makes it clear why. Chuck Schuldiner’s demonic, high‑pitched growls deliver a unique blend of brutality and expressiveness, while his guitar work—alongside Shannon Hamm—forms the backbone of the album’s technical and melodic identity. Both musicians showcase remarkable skill, crafting intricate riffs, elaborate solos, and thematic ideas that elevate the material far beyond standard genre tropes.

Their performance is anchored by the rock‑solid rhythm section of Richard Christy and Scott Clendenin, whose constant tempo shifts and rhythmic precision give the album its dynamic, almost architectural sense of movement. Together, the band achieves what I consider one of the strongest examples of technical death metal and one of the most seamless fusions of death and progressive metal ever recorded.

The production, handled by Chuck Schuldiner and Jim Morris at the legendary Morrisound Studios, is once again top‑tier, capturing both the clarity and the weight the music demands. The artwork, created by the always impressive Travis Smith, complements the album’s atmosphere perfectly.

A particularly interesting detail is that several song titles were originally intended for the first CONTROL DENIED album. However, after DEATH signed with Nuclear Blast, Chuck agreed to create one final DEATH record before moving forward with his new project—a decision for which fans remain grateful.

The Sound of Perseverance has been re‑released multiple times: first by Nuclear Blast in 2001 without changes, then again in 2005 as a deluxe edition. Relapse Records now offers a third reissue, this time enriched with extensive bonus material, including the band’s 1997 and 1998 demo recordings.

If you are a DEATH devotee—or simply a death metal fanatic—this is a release you should seriously consider exploring. It remains a landmark album whose influence and artistic vision continue to resonate.

Christine  Parastatidou