since i bought some death classics with "scream bloody gore" and "leprosy", i was really glad to see relapse records re-pressing some stuff from the band's more sophisticated and technical phase. relapse decided for their fourth death re-press to issue "the sound of perseverance" from 1998, the last album in their discopgraphy originally released through nuclear blast. when the pre-order went live, i was right there to invest some money into a nice limited relapse exclusive version.
i really fancied to order the deluxe box set edition which looks real lovely. the price of admission was fair but the shipping costs even exceeded the actual price and so i had to step back. a real shame but i couldn't reconcile this purchase with my monetary conscience. instead i ordered the most limited shop exclusive version which was the red and gold merge vinyl edition. ordering with relapse is always a pleasure, especially when it comes to the packaging of the goods. sturdy mailer with strengthened edges to protect the cover from bends and records always outside the sleeve to prevent seam-splits.
the musical part of "the sound of perseverance" is remarkable. such a strong multi-layered album from start to finish - a real cracker. after the great experiences with "scream bloody gore" and "leprosy" and the lovely "flesh and the power it holds" cover song from obscura on their "illegimitation" release, i don't listen to any death stuff via digital channels anymore. i'll wait for the re-presses or ebay hits and listen to the records like new releases. what striked me immediately when i listened to "the sound of perseverance" for the first time, was the rather high pitched voice of chuck schuldiner in comparison to the albums i know.
i think it matches the sound quite well. what is really outstanding to me on this album is the sheer quantity of great, classic metal melodies. in the context with the progressive death metal of this album, it makes this final full length easily my favourite death record for now. in my eyes the best example for the sound of the whole of this work is "to forgive is to suffer". lovely presentation here. gatefold sleeve with liner notes of guitarist shannon hamm, an insert with lyrics and tons of pics, gold-foil print on the front and this beautiful colour-way. the red almost glows among the gold. 300 copies made. relapse records. 2016.
