INDIVIDUAL THOUGHT PATTERNS

This is a slight step down from the brilliant 'Human' album, but still very well written and played. This is the last Death album that I enjoyed as it still retains a raw and oppressive atmosphere thanks to it's dirty sounding production. After this album Death's music became over-produced and too sterile for my tastes (at least in this type of music).

The album starts with the crushing 'Overactive Imagination'. Insane double-bass hammering from Gene Hoglan compliments a devastatingly brutal riff on the first verse which is then followed by a few sections more in line with classic 80's Thrash Metal. Then come some downright evil sounding harmonized guitar solo sections which are outstanding.

Steve DiGiorgio shines here (and all over this album) with his masterful bass playing... his presence is one of the main ingredients which allowed this band to transcend beyond basic Death Metal into a true Progressive style of music.

Every songs follows more or less in the same light, there is not much variation in the sound palette and the songs tend to bleed into one another if you're not paying close attention, but the constantly shifting song structures and complicated time changes go far in keeping things from becoming too monotonous.

'Destiny' is another highlight which contains a beautiful acoustic guitar intro backed melancholic synthesizer washes. The main body of the song is more typical Death music with twisting rhythms and jagged timing shifts between the many different musical themes.

'The Philosopher' ends the album on a very high note. This is one of the very best songs in the entire history of Death Metal.

Recommended to all 'Death Metal' fans, Prog or otherwise. 3.5 stars.