The Sound of Perseverance
Original cover art by Travis Smith
Studio album by
Death
ReleasedAugust 31, 1998
StudioMorrisound Recording, Tampa, Florida
Genre
Length56:17
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerJim Morris, Chuck Schuldiner
Death chronology
Symbolic
(1995)		 The Sound of Perseverance
(1998)		 Live in L.A. (Death & Raw)
(2001)
Singles from The Sound of Perseverance
  1. "Spirit Crusher"
    Released: 1998
Death studio album chronology
Symbolic
(1995)		 The Sound of Perseverance
(1998)

The Sound of Perseverance is the seventh and final studio album by American death metal band Death, released on August 31, 1998, by Nuclear Blast.[4] The album features a whole new lineup of members except Chuck Schuldiner; it is the only album to feature guitarist Shannon Hamm, drummer Richard Christy, and bassist Scott Clendenin. It is also Death's final commercial release, as Chuck Schuldiner would die due to brain cancer-related issues in 2001, and Death would subsequently disband.

Overview

In an interview done in March 1999, Chuck Schuldiner stated that the acoustic guitar-driven "Voice of the Soul" was actually written during the Symbolic sessions.[5] Death has produced only two instrumentals (the other being "Cosmic Sea" from Human).[6]

The Moment of Clarity was expected to appear on the first Control Denied album, which was worked on in 1997,[7] though it was retooled as a Death song and released on The Sound of Perseverance. Schuldiner denied this in an interview with Metal Maniacs the following year by saying that none of his compositions for Control Denied had been used to fill space for a Death album.[8] Schuldiner implied that some Control Denied songs were used for The Sound of Perseverance in an interview with Scream Magazine in October 1999, when he stated that The Fragile Art of Existence "contains a lot of music I didn't have in mind originally. Most of the material was completed in 1996-97."[9] The former singer of Control Denied, Tim Aymar, confirmed in December 2010 that a few of the Control Denied songs had been, in his words, "'Deathized' and recorded on TSOP."[10]

Painkiller was intended as a bonus track for Japan, but Nuclear Blast recommended that it be included on all releases.[11]

Deluxe editions

Nuclear Blast released a deluxe edition in December 2005. It contains the original album as well as the DVD Live in Cottbus '98 and press pictures. It was also released as a DualDisc.[12]

Relapse Records released a second deluxe edition on February 15, 2011. The album was remastered and reissued in deluxe 2-CD and 3-CD formats, with the additional CDs containing unreleased demo material[13] and a revised cover by original cover artist Travis Smith.[14]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[15]
AllMusic[4]
Chronicles of Chaos9/10[16]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal9/10[17]
Metal Forces10/10[18]
Sputnikmusic[19]

The Sound of Perseverance has received critical acclaim and is considered by fans and critics alike as one of Death's greatest albums. Jason Hundey of AllMusic described it as "a truly glorious metal release, certainly Death's finest hour, and easily one of the top metal albums of all time".[4] Chronicles of Chaos reviewer Paul Schwarz said the album "excels in all the right places. Great thrashings, technical solos, memorable choruses and clear vocals are the order of the day".[16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chuck Schuldiner, unless noted

No.TitleLength
1."Scavenger of Human Sorrow"6:56
2."Bite the Pain"4:29
3."Spirit Crusher"6:47
4."Story to Tell"6:34
5."Flesh and the Power It Holds"8:26
6."Voice of the Soul" (instrumental)3:43
7."To Forgive Is to Suffer"5:55
8."A Moment of Clarity"7:25
9."Painkiller" (Judas Priest cover (Halford, Downing, Tipton))6:02
Total length:56:17
2011 remastered version (bonus disc 1)
No.TitleLength
1."Spirit Crusher" (from 1998 demos, no bass (instrumental))6:55
2."Flesh and the Power It Holds" (from 1998 demos, no bass (instrumental))8:22
3."Voice of the Soul" (from 1998 demos, no bass (instrumental))3:30
4."Bite the Pain" (from 1998 demos)4:28
5."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1998 demos)6:38
6."Story to Tell" (from 1998 demos)6:40
7."Scavenger of Human Sorrow" (from 1998 demos)6:49
8."Bite the Pain" (from 1997 demos)4:31
9."Story to Tell" (from 1997 demos)6:37
10."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1997 demos)6:34
Total length:61:02
2011 remastered version (bonus disc 2)
No.TitleLength
1."Bite the Pain" (from 1996 demos, Chuck Schuldiner on vocals)4:19
2."Story to Tell" (from 1996 demos, Chuck Schuldiner on vocals)6:19
3."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1996 demos, Chuck Schuldiner on vocals, clean backing vocals)6:17
4."Bite the Pain" (from 1996 demos, Paul Payne on vocals)4:20
5."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1996 demos, Paul Payne on vocals)6:17
6."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1996 demos, Chuck Schuldiner on vocals, clean vocals)6:17
7."Story to Tell" (from 1996 demos, Chuck Schuldiner on vocals, clean vocals)6:24
8."Bite the Pain" (from 1996 demos, Shannon Hamm on vocals)4:14
9."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1996 demos, instrumental)5:32
10."Bite the Pain" (from 1996 demos, instrumental)4:14
11."Story to Tell" (from 1996 demos, instrumental)6:13
12."Voice of the Soul" (from 1996 demos, instrumental)3:29
13."A Moment of Clarity" (from 1996 demos, instrumental)6:12
Total length:70:07

Personnel

Death

Additional personnel

  • Steve Di Giorgio – bass on 1997 and 1998 demos
  • Chris Williams – drums on 1996 demo
  • Paul Payne – vocals on 1996 demo
  • Shannon Hamm – vocals on 1996 demo

Production

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[20] 35
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[21] 93
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 60

References

  1. ↑ "Death: The Sound of Perseverance (Relapse Reissue)". Sea Of Tranquility. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ Divita, Joe. "10 Best Songs by the Band Death". Loudwire. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Death Metal, Melodic". Metal Storm. August 3, 2005. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Hundey, Jason. "The Sound of Perseverance - Death". AllMusic. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Death". Lamentations of the Flame Princess. March 1999. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ Borivoj Krgin (December 1991). "Only Human". Metal Maniacs. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  7. ↑ Dennis Gulbey (Spring 1997). "Death no more! Control Denied is here!!". Sentinel Steel. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Reincarnation". Metal Maniacs. November 1998. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Control Denied". Scream Magazine. October 1999. Accessed March 5, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Tim Aymar Speaks Out". Empty Words. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Death Alive". Aardschok. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  12. ↑ "News > DEATH - Release Date Changed For The Sound of Perseverance Deluxe Edition". Bravewords.com. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  13. ↑ Empty Words News Page, Empty Words, accessed December 14, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Artist Explains Decision To Update DEATH 'The Sound Of Perseverance' Cover Art". Blabbermouth.net. January 13, 2011. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  15. ↑ Schalek, Dave. "Death - 'The Sound Of Perseverance'". About.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  16. 1 2 Schwarz, Paul (September 1, 1998). "CoC : Death - The Sound of Perseverance : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
  17. ↑ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 105–106. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  18. ↑ Arnold, Neil. "Death - The Sound Of Perseverance (Reissue)". Metal Forces. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  19. ↑ Schroer, Brendan (April 14, 2010). "Death - The Sound of Perseverance". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Death – The Sound of Perseverance" (in German). Hung Medien.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Death – The Sound of Perseverance" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  22. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Death – The Sound of Perseverance" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
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