Obituary - Cause of Death (1990)
Album Review
Death metal has produced countless classics, but few records have cast a shadow as long as Cause of Death. Released in 1990, 's sophomore album didn't just cement the Florida outfit as one of the genre's defining forces it helped shape the very language of death metal. More than three decades later, its suffocating atmosphere and bone crushing riffs still sound absolutely lethal.
From the haunting instrumental opener "Infected" into the pulverizing title track, Cause of Death wastes no time dragging listeners into its swamp of decay. The guitars, courtesy of James Murphy and Trevor Peres, strike the perfect balance between technical precision and primal brutality. Murphy's eerie, melodic leads slice through the murk like flashes of lightning, adding an unsettling sense of beauty to an otherwise relentlessly grim landscape.
While many of their peers chased ever increasing speed, Obituary understood the power of the slow, crushing groove. Tracks like "Chopped in Half," "Body Bag," and "Turned Inside Out" lumber forward with terrifying confidence, each riff feeling heavier than the last. Drummer Donald Tardy locks everything into place with thunderous precision, allowing every crushing rhythm to breathe instead of disappearing into a blur of blast beats.
Then there's John Tardy. Rather than relying on intelligible lyrics or theatrical delivery, his unmistakable growl becomes another instrument entirely a monstrous, inhuman roar that helped define what a death metal vocalist could sound like. It's savage without feeling forced, making every track feel less like a performance and more like an eruption from somewhere deep beneath the earth.
What truly separates Cause of Death from countless imitators is its atmosphere. This isn't just an album full of heavy songs; it's an immersive descent into rot and ruin. Producer Scott Burns gives every instrument room to breathe while preserving the raw, humid intensity that became synonymous with the Florida death metal scene. The result is a record that's crushing without becoming muddy and vicious without sacrificing memorable songwriting.
More than 35 years later, Cause of Death remains essential listening not because it's influential, but because it still delivers everything extreme music should. It's oppressive, unforgettable, and packed with riffs that refuse to die. Plenty of death metal albums have come and gone since 1990, but few have matched the sheer weight and timeless menace of this masterpiece.
Rating: 9/10
Review
by
Michael Benesh