Symbolic

I can fuck off

I love this album. Never thought to add it to this project, but I'm glad someone else did. Chuck could write a riff. It's like a death metal rust in peace, the solo breaks just keep coming. 5/5.

Does what it says on the tin. Won't be for everyone. But those people can fuck off.

One of the true metal classics by the band that defined the death metal genre. It's not repetitive distorted drone the way death metal bands bands like Mayhem produce, but more technical with a lot of great guitar riffs and solo's. Very varied music too. The classical guitar notes in Crystal Mountain combine beautifully with the real distorted dual guitars and bass I'm not a fan of grunting unless it's so clear that I can still follow the lyrics (as on this album).

Arguably one of the most influential bands of all time? Kinda crazy this wasn't on the original list now that I think about it. It's death metal, so obviously it won't be for everyone, but I think even those people can appreciate the insane musicianship on display. Personally love it. Some of the riffs on here are genuinely some of the coolest shit I've ever heard in my life. Five outta five.

Sometimes you get exactly what you expect. Their name is Death. They are metal. It sounds like a metal album by a band called death. Lots of breakdowns.

Snarly death metal with an operatic feel? Yeah, I’m here for that. It wouldn’t be something that I’m going to enjoy while I chill out at the end of the day, but when I’m up for adrenalinisation, I’ll be glad it’s here. Yes, that’s not a word.

Was excited for a heavier LP today, but this one didn’t hit the mark for me. The instrumentation and overall tracks are fine, but the whole thing feels unbalanced mix-wise. The screeching vocals and wall of mids from the guitar completely overwhelm any bass or treble, so the whole thing feels tinny without any kind of solid grounding from the rhythm section. I’m a big proponent of wall-of-noise music, but there has to be at least a smidge of bass in there to make it work.

I thought this might be an album by important Detroit punk band ‘Death’ but it is in fact a very long metal album that I did not finish DNF = 1

That’s fucking metal! \m/

I’m not a huge death metal fan to be quite honest, and the vocals in particular didn’t really click with me on this one. I thought it was a really well put together album though, with fantastic riffs and Gene Hoglan’s incredible metronomic drumming. The more melodic moments were a nice touch to provide some variety but really the tightness of the heavier sections was the standout. A really strong representation that I actually quite enjoyed from a genre I generally don’t vibe with

Classic

Fast and loud, with awesome drumming and chunky guitars. Would be a good inclusion in the book, if only to represent the more extreme end of things. Not much light and shade, but I hardly think that was the aim!

Just like that one reviewer, I would have preferred reviewing the legendary pre-punk Detroit band also going by the "Death" moniker... But I have to admit I'm still pretty happy to have listened to this record, if only to know more about death metal history. Looks like *Symbolic* mostly impressed at the time through its more melodic dirges and subtle prog-rock flourishes (quite striking on the second side!). Of course, this has triggered endless discussions between "purists" and more open-minded fans of the genre. And of course the latter were ultimately right. Apart for that debate, some of the main riffs are instantly memorable (which is not necessarily a given in that subgenre), the guitar solos are admittedly gratuitously pyrotechnic, but most importantly, always fun and imaginative, and the topical elements evoked in the lyrics are worth exploring, I guess (but more on the lyrics later). Also worthy of note, some very subliminal hardcore punk influences can be pinpointed in this record. Oh, gone are the definitely faster cuts I found in Death's earlier albums as I browsed through them -- which supposedly also influenced grindcore acts so much. Maybe we're missing out on them a little here, yet let's be honest for one second: in those earlier albums, that sort of more "orthodox" death metal was produced on a budget anyway, and it is borderline unlistenable for newcomers today. In comparison, *Symbolic*'s sound and production values aged far better -- even if the reverb on the drums come off as somewhat awkward at times. A very minor gripe, but I needed it out of my chest. Trying as hard to be as objective as I can be, you see. One flaw that I often associate with this genre, for instance, is the manner some parts in the songs are "glued" to one another, yielding to compositions that neither rhyme nor reason for me, and I can find that flaw in the LP to an extent. But I get that for certain fans this aspect probably brings a key element of surprise preventing those tracks from becoming too linear, which is something I also tried to consider as I listened. At the end of the day, that thing is probably crafted just as it should have been. So if you're not the target audience, it's probably better to leave your expectations at the door, and assess the album on its own merits. Of even better, try to "feel" it. "Without judgement, perceptions would increase a thousand times" goes Chuck Shuldiner at some point (may he rest in power). I can only applaud the idea, even if some of the man's lyrics sound hamfisted once in a while. But maybe the problem is that I'm still "judging" those lyrics according to standards that can't apply for metal at large, instead of "feeling" their message. A little food for thought here: good art is not always about being pleasant or skilled, but following the best idea that can truly enhance the aesthetics you dedicate your creations to. And I thank Death (and that nameless French Canadian user) for offering us an illustration of that concept on this generator. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential album, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5+3.5) Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 25 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 37 (including this one) Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 66 --- Émile, j'ai mis ma dernière réponse sous l'album de The 1975 au dessus...

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Crystal mountain

Vocals could be better, but okay-ish album after all

Musically, this is pretty excellent. Muscular and fierce, with an unrelenting pace and surprise flashes of melodicism. The vocals aren't particularly to my taste, but that's just me. Fave Songs: Crystal Mountain, Symbolic, Without Judgement, Zero Tolerance, Misanthrope

This flavor of metal just isn't my thing... instrumentally it always seems to be about speed uber alles, the vocal style does nothing to me, and the lyrics are usually so portentious and self-important. I appreciate the artistry, this represents the genre creditably, but not something I'd seek out.

I liked the energy, the speed, solid hard rock. Enjoyed the diversity of choice... 1,000 Eyes, Misanthrope worked for me.

Immense amount of metal

Shares some DNA with the Korns and the Slipknots of the world, elevated by having decent production/mixing

Absolutely killer

Great example of a death metal album that’s actually good, deserves its place on the list.

Ok I always go into these albums thinking it's going to be an ordeal. This was pretty good. I coped with the vocals and there is some ingenuity with the riffage.

Death came on my radar with some YouTube reviewer who sang their praises. I had put another one of their records on my to listen list and therefore was very happy when I saw them come up here. I enjoyed this listen but the style isn’t really my thing.

Hoglan went off

Very much a hardcore death metal album that is in line with the bands name. This is a type of metal album that is far too sinister for my liking. The lyricism, the high bpm instrumentals it’s all too much for my liking and not something I’d revisit if I did want to listen to some metal. 4.5/10

As with most things in life, to be an expert, you've got to pay attention to the details of your craft. The experts for death metal have deemed this a great album. As someone who doesn't regularly listen, it's tough for me to differentiate this and any of the others. It's very different, and requires a certain attentiveness that I lack.

Technical death metal, melodic death metal. No me ha gustado. Un 2.

I don't mind the music but I just can't with the vocals, sorry. 2 stars.

I would be really interested to know the reasons why someone chose a particular album. Music like this doesn’t speak to me but it obviously does to the person who chose it so to know the context would be invaluable. Unfortunately without that this is not an album I can get behind.

Metal album, hard to say if it's good or bad, I'm not the arbiter of metal. But I liked a couple songs, so middle of the pack for me on ones I've heard. 2.5/5

I think the most surprising thing about this album is that Roadrunner Records was around in 1995. One of my favorite labels.

I can’t say that I love death metal as a genre, so there’s that. This being “approachable” according to sources cited in the wikipedia article, I thought maybe… ? Well, turns out this wasn’t great for me. Some talent on display but some of it seemed to go on and on.

Ah another metal album. Once again I would enjoy it more if the vocals weren't such garbage. Why do all these metal albums have horrible singers? Technically I can hear skill but then the vocals come in and it's just bad. Takes an okay album to a terrible one. My personal rating: 2/5 My rating relative to the list: 2/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Sure. Seems to be important to the genre.

Man

I can appreciate lots of heavier rock oriented bands, but this particular guitar sound I find absolutely horrible. Technically very well executed but the sound is so aweful. Combine that with a vocalist who clearly suffers from bowel-obstruction, judging from the way he delivers his lines, and that's a clear "Nah, not for me". Would prefer to not rate it at all, to not affect the overall score, but alas.

At first the music was going very well, until the vocalist started to play in the same mold as any pretentious metalhead. I personally don't like that style of "screaming" performances, especially when they don't project anything beyond an aggressive meaning. 1.5 stars

👎🏻

Just a simple hard NO

Shambolic! Surprised that the person who submitted this like much of the same stuff as me from the main list.

I think it really says something that I still have no interest in listening to music like this even after my fiancée dumped me three months before the wedding. If I can't get in the right headspace for grating angry death metal with my current mood I don't think I ever will.

I just really don’t want to listen to this. It sounds like they are good at what they do but I guess I have different ways of dealing with my emotions than this? It’s a dilemma I’ve had throughout this project - do I rate it objectively or subjectively? Sorry OP but in terms of appeal to me this has to be a one star.

Shut the fuck up. Please, shut the fuck up.