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Class 6(66)
Death: Symbolic
24/09/10 || InquisitorGeneralis
Introduction
“Symbolic” is a twelve-story tall flaming cock come to Earth to fuck us with it’s technical metal perfection. It is a bus full of drunken Hooters girls that drives around to metal head’s houses and invites those chumps in for a week-long orgy that would make Satan want to go to confession. It is a 50,000 gallons vat of the finest, tastiest beer ever that sits in your backyard that you can swim in and get drunk from whenever you please. “Symbolic” is a colorful sunset over top a calm, blue lake… filled with lesbian mermaids having a fish-taco feast on one another. Get the point, asshole?
A few months back, I said ‘Individual Thoughts Patterns’ might be the perfect Death album. “Symbolic” is its number one competition for that title. This record has it all: great sound, varied and interesting songs, and technical skill that is still remarkable fifteen years later. Besides “Human”, I would say this is the most influential Death album on the world of metal as we know it. Personally, this was the album that got me into Death…a band that I had no interest in for years. I know, we all make youthful mistakes. Mine include drunkenly running my Jeep into a telephone pole, impregnating my bi-polar ex-girlfriend, and not liking Death! Well, after hearing “Crystal Mountain” I righted my erroneous ways, got “Symbolic”, and have become a total Death zombie. Read on Dominators, and see why this is a record every metal fan should own.
Songwriting
10. Each and every song on “Symbolic” has its own feel and identity. “Empty words”, “Crystal mountain”, and “Zero tolerance” are three of the band’s signature songs. This album has every type of song you could want: fast and brutal ones like “1,000 eyes”, the monstrous title track, and “Misanthrope” combined with slower and heaver ass-pounders like “Empty words” and “Zero tolerance”. Chuck, as almost always, was definitely on his songwriting game here. No song has the same structure or feel as another. Death really ups the ante at the end of “Symbolic” with the progressive, technical masterpiece song “Perennial quest”. Oh, and “Crystal mountain” is the best metal song ever written. That’s kind of a big deal too.
Guitar
10. Chuck rules on guitar. The solo on “Empty words”, the colossal riffing of “Symbolic”, the beginning and solo of “Without judgment” which always fire me up, all of “Crystal mountain”… fuck there are too many awesome moments on here to list! Bobby Koeble backs up Chuck well but unlike the previous two records where Mr. S had to share the spotlight with certified axe master Paul Masvidal and Andy LaRocque this show on “Symbolic” is all his and he certainly delivers outstanding riffs and solos song after song after song. “Sacred serenity” with its amazing intro, heavy riffs, and quality solo may be the guitar highlight on here but really, every song is a fucking clinic on how to play guitars on a metal album.
Bass
8. Kelly Conlon, now slappin’ it up with Monstrosity, does a solid job on “Symbolic”. While his playing does not stand out as much as DiGiogrio’s on “Individual Thought Patterns” and “Human” he still helps lay down the rhythm with gusto along side the Atomic Clock. His strongest moments are “Zero tolerance” and” Crystal Mountain but, as with the other members’ performances, it’s all fucken good.
Vocals
9. Chuck’s vocals got a bit more sneering and high-pitched with each record after “Human” and that trend continues here. Not a problem though, because they are done well and most importantly Chuck knew when to shit the fuck up and rock out. I could not imagine any other vocalist using any other style on “Symbolic”. Why else do I need to say?
Drums
10. This is Hoglan at the height of his awesomeness: expected and impressive kick drumming, fills bigger and badder than his belly. Christ, Gene has been in too many fucking bands, I am running out of things to say about him! Speed, groove, intensity: Hogman does it all on “Symbolic”. His playing on “Empty words” is what definitely sealed my love for “Symbolic”. The off-tempo pounding behind the chorus just kills me every time. “1,000 eyes” may be the most intense drumming song on here. The fast sections of “Symbolic” are also insane. Again, just like with the guitars every song on here is goddamn drumming clinic.
Production
9.5. This is my favorite sounding Death record. The only minor issue is the bass which is a bit low in the mix. Everything else though is ace; guitars are heavy but not overwhelming, drums are crisp and the kicks heavy but not dominating, and the vocals are spot-on too. No one aspect of sound dominates the others.
Lyrics.
10. Three words for you fucks: cross turned dagger! That line alone gives “Symbolic” a high mark for lyrics. By this point in Death’s career Chuck had definitely moved away from gore and zombie and focused on philosophy, thought, life-issues, etc etc. There are no stupid odes to Baphomet or Ave Lucifer’s on here: just intelligent, well-thought lyrics about personal issues and shit. I always sing along and rock the fuck out to the chorus of “Empty words”…
Promises a potential to hurt
Is anything real?
When forever is to be until
Deep inside, in the world of empty words…
No escaping from those haunting
empty words!!!
Another highlight for me is the chorus to “Zero tolerance” which I am sure was a crowd pleaser back in the day. Fuck, I would give anything to go back in time and see Death!
There will be zero tolerance
For the creator of hallowed intentions
There will be zero tolerance
Fate is your deciding God
Cover
9 I think all of the images on here mean something…like maybe they are symbols or something? Makes sense to me!
Logo.
10. The tried and true Death logo complete with the Grim Reaper, scythes, and bleeding letters; one of metal’s absolute best.
Booklet
N/A: Ain’t got that shit no mo’, nah I ain’t got that shit no mo’ no mo’!
Overall and Ending Rant
Symbolic is the album that got me into Death and will always occupy a special spot in my cold, dead heart when it comes to the life and times of Chuck Schuldiner. “Symbolic” is a record that I can put on at anytime no matter what mood I am in or what trend or style of metal is tickling my pickle at that moment. I can listen to any track, any time! How many albums out there can you truly say that about? It is amazing how ahead of the times Death were in terms of technicality, melody, and songwriting on “Symbolic”.
Any band that fancies themselves as technical, progressive, or melodic death metal is pretty much working from the foundation that Death started. The cornerstone of that is “Symbolic”: an absolute total fucking masterpiece. I know I have dished out a few of these lately but if there ever was a record that deserves one it is “Symbolic”. It has zero flaws: the songs are incredible, the production sounds great, and it still holds up against anything released today. My favorite Death record? Absolutely! My favorite metal record of all time? Probably. A 10? You fucken betcha…
- Information
- Released: 1995
- Label: Roadrunner
- Website: www.emptywords.org
- Band
- Chuck Schuldiner: guitar, vocals
- Kelly Conlon: bass
- Bobby Koelble: guitar
- Gene Hoglan: drums
- Tracklist
- 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
