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Death: Leprosy (re-issue)
30/04/14 || Ironpants
This could turn out weird? Reviewing an album that every single dude around the world most probably have in their collection and should have listened to at least a thousand times. Well, thanks to our friends over at Relapse this album is once again up on the billboard. It’s time for another re-issue/re-master of a classic in the Death catalog.
I remember that day, some 25 years ago when “Leprosy” was released. I had just celebrated my 16th birthday and thrash metal was the shit, and then this album turned up in my daily mail. Around this time I based all my album purchases on reviews that I had read in Metal Hammer or Kerrang!, because you see children, this album was originally released before the Interwebz, YouLube and Slutify and whatever. I opened up the jewel case with my sweaty hands, and flipped the disc in the CD, and when the first notes of “Leprosy” poured out of the speakers, I was absorbed by the heaviest shit I had ever heard. And when Chuck delivered that first “Uuuuuuuuhhhhaaaaaoooooooo!” my jaw dropped to the floor. My first encounter with death metal was a fact and my death metal hymen was split in a thousand fluttering pieces. Since that day, Death has been the most influential band for me and it was this album that really pushed my lamented soul in the right direction.
So, one could guess that this could turn into a real shit-sandwich for me? You know, being so old school that I would laugh in the general direction of each and every attempt to improve a perfect album? Well, that could be right for any other re-issue of whatever old album of your choice, cause normally I am a bit against re-masters. But with the Death series I must say that they (the re-master dudes) have really performed at a top notch level. All the other albums done so far, which is all of the other albums after “Leprosy”, have been reworked with a snipers accuracy, pinpointing all the few crappy parts of the sound pictures and leveled them out to deliver a bigger experience. That is the case with this album also.
The biggest difference is the drums and bass guitar. The snare on the original “Leprosy” is nothing for the weak minded, being up in your face like a UFC fighter’s quick jabs for 40 minutes. It is still “there” but it has been dragged down to the ground and put on a leash. In songs like “Open casket” it is trying to escape, but held back to a bearable level. The bass is a bit more prominent and allowed to take place on another level, which is awesome.
There’s no need to talk about the songs themselves in this review, cause there’s nothing to say that haven’t been said before , by us and others through the years but we could mention what is on the bonus discs for this remastered edition. Disc 2 is filled with rehearsal versions of the songs on the actual album, and to be perfectly honest with you, it kinda sucks. Yeah OK, maybe it is fun to listen to them one time, but I have a hard time imagining why someone should spin this on a regular basis. Disc 3 delivers two live performances where some songs from “Scream bloody gore” is also represented. The sound quality is not the very best, but if you are a hardcore fan you should probably like it.
There’s a shitload of different bundles you can choose from over at Relapse, ranging from vinyls, CD´s with or without merch and what not, so I suggest you check it out. This is truly a groundbreaking album and if you are a snotty youngster that have never heard of the band “Death” you should use this opportunity to fill the holes in your collection, and if you are an old-timer like me, you should do the same cause this version is carefully handled to bring out the best possible sound for your pleasure.
Choke on it!
- Information
- Released: 2014
- Label: Relapse
- Website: Relapse/Death
- Band
- Chuck Schuldiner: vocals, guitar, bass
- Rick Rozz: guitars
- Bill Andrews: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Leprosy
- 02. Born dead
- 03. Forgotten past
- 04. Left to die
- 05. Pull the plug
- 06. Open casket
- 07. Primitive ways
- 08. Choke on it
