Death | Vivus!

March 3, 2012 by Publisher
Filed under arcrvws2012

by Jonathan
Staff Writer –

Musical innovator, pioneer and trailblazer are just a few words that come to mind when describing the brilliance behind Death’s creator, Chuck Shuldiner. With that being said, the music presented on the latest live Death release, Vivus!, is much more than death metal. Not saying that would be a bad thing, it’s just that death metal is one genre of metal; and what Death delivers is a fusion approach toward extreme listening combining death metal, thrash, and with later works elements of progressive music as well. Anyone that’s familiar with Chuck’s writing knows that with each Death release, not only did the production evolve, but the music always seemed to get a bit more technical as well.

In many ways the music performed on Vivus! is far more superior to the early studio releases. For example, as previously mentioned Death’s production always improved with each release, their production is so drastically different from 1987 to 1998 that it must be acknowledged. It’s logical to think that Chuck liked his guitar sound better in 1998 during the two performances on Vivus! as opposed to his guitar sound in 1987 on the first studio record Scream Bloody Gore, if he didn’t he wouldn’t have changed it. Due to advancements in technology during that time period, music gear took giant leaps in terms of processing and effects; so what Vivus! delivers is a more advanced sound on each instrument. When listening to older songs like “Zombie Ritual” which was released on Scream Bloody Gore in 1987, or “Suicide Machine” and “Together As One” from the Human CD in 1991, the updated improvements on instrument production seem to unify all of the music from Vivus! regardless of what year the song was originally released. This makes the music on Vivus! seem less like a greatest hits which it isn’t, and flow more comprehensively. The overall production of Vivus! is quite good, especially considering these two shows couldn’t be more different, one is indoors and the other is outdoors which makes creating and maintaining continuity between the two even more challenging for the producer.

The musicians on Vivus! are the same as those that appear on The Sound Of Perseverance, of course no disrespect to the previous musicians who are all very accomplished; but this line-up is just a bit more proficient. With Chuck’s advanced guitar playing and gritty vocals, which adds to the horror concept surrounding Death’s ideology, and the skill level of his fellow band members, Vivus! are two live performances that are very much a prime example of the greatness that was and always will be Death.

Ozzy had stated in past interviews, that Randy Rhoads was so advanced that he would have moved on past Ozzy and done so much more; well the same can be said about Chuck Shuldiner. The song writing on Death’s last studio release, The Sound Of Perseverance shows Death at their peak. It’s the most complex and technical CD in their catalog, indicating that Chuck would have continued to grow, he too would have transcended where he was musically and done so much more had he stayed with us.

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Band:
Chuck Schuldiner / vocals, gutiar
Richard Christy / drums
Scott Clendenin / bass
Shannon Hamm / guitar

Tracks Listing:

CD 1 – Live In Hollywood (1998)

01. The Philosopher
02. Spirit Crusher
03. Trapped In A Corner
04. Scavenger Of Human Sorrow
05. Crystal Mountain
06. Flesh And The Power It Holds
07. Zero Tolerance
08. Zombie Ritual
09. Suicide Machine
10. Together As One
11. Empty Words
12. Symbolic
13. Pull The Plug

CD 2 – Live In Eindhoven (1998)

01. The Philosopher
02. Trapped In A Corner
03. Crystal Mountain
04. Suicide Machine
05. Together As One
06. Zero Tolerance
07. Lack Of Comprehension
08. Flesh And The Power It Holds
09. Flattening Of Emotions
10. Spirit Crusher
11. Pull The Plug

Label: Relapse Records

Web: http://www.emptywords.org/

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

Tags: CD Review, Chuck Schuldiner, DEATH, Relapse Records, Technical Death Metal, Vivus!

Death | Vivus!

February 28, 2012 by Publisher
Filed under arcrvws2012

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by John Kindred
Staff Writer –

The Relapse Records reissue campaign for Death continues with their latest release Vivus! This two-CD affair comprises two live concert performances that originally were released separately in 2001, Live In L.A (Death & Raw) and Live In Eindhoven on Nuclear Blast. Both shows were recorded in 1998, disc one was recorded at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, and disc two captured the band at Dynamo Open Air in Eindhoven, Holland. At this point in the band’s career, the lineup comprised Chuck Schuldiner, Richard Christy, Scott Clendenin and Shannon Hamm.

Death was founded in 1983 by the late Chuck Schuldiner. The band began from the anguish felt by Schuldiner after his brother’s death. At the age of 9, Schuldiner’s parents purchased a guitar for him as a way to help with his grief. Moving from an acoustic guitar to an electric set Schuldiner on his path of musical discovery. He became a self-taught musician, who was influenced by Iron Maiden and KISS and later moved on to Slayer, Possessed, Mercyful Fate/King Diamond and Metallica.

Death released seven studio albums from 1987 to ’98. 1991′s Human was the band’s bestselling album and showcased the technical and progressive maturity of Death. Schuldiner is regarded as a pioneering force in Death Metal and Grindcore and the father of Death Metal. After a brief battle with brain cancer, he contracted pneumonia and was hospitalized. Upon discharge from the hospital he returned home only to die an hour later on Dec. 13, 2001.

The music contained on Vivus! is a testament to the legacy left by Schuldiner, which ultimately created the Death Metal genre and was a major influence to Progressive Metal. Although both performances lack the full-on production afforded to some of the most desirable live recordings officially released. It would be a mistake to dismiss the importance of Death’s performance captured in a live setting. The technical prowess of the band and its brutal, spot-on delivery set the standards for their peers to follow.

Although Chuck Schuldiner died at 34, he left and extensive musical legacy. His body of work can heard in the bands Death and Control Denied, which was his progressive metal project, and Voodoocult.