Death – Spiritual Healing (reissue)

A reissue usually ends as a buy for the die-hard fans, definitely a glimpse for timid metal fans and continue whatever you were doing if you don’t like metal. Originally a 1990 release, Spiritual Healing remains a critically-acclaimed, noteworthy album. This will definitely not be an exercise in nostalgia, seeing as I was 3 months old during the time of its initial release. Yet, 23 years later they made a reissue and seems like the perfect time to lay down some opinions on Death.

They are one of those pioneering bands that you just cannot talk shit about if you’re truly interested in the origin of death metal. Having a life-span of 18 years, the band was bound to go through some teething problems and teenage angst. Retrospectively easy to criticise, Spiritual Healing is perhaps not their greatest release (Sound of Perseverance comes to mind). It’s nonetheless an amazing album. This reissue presents cleaner production, something lacking in the original release. The album contains 8 tracks with a variation of songs, clocking in at 43 minutes. Chuck Schuldiner is nothing short of a legend, by being a masterful soloist and lyricist – the solos and lyrics being the main feature on the album.  

I think the original Spiritual Healing was a step in the right direction, representing a progressing force with their third album. Death pretty much defined death metal in its early years, even though the death metal label has now far transcended its pioneers. For one, Chuck’s trademark aggressive and screechy vocals is not definitive of the genre anymore.

Spiritual Healing has an experimental sound in comparison with the rest of Death’s discography. The album has a frantic feel to it, with the vocals taking dominance. The title track is amazing, ranging from slow to extremely fast. The song Low Life contains amazing vocal techniques. The lyrics differing from controversial matters to straightforward political messages.

Known more for their logo and album art than their music, I feel Death is a pioneering band that deserves our respect. But, perhaps not our money from just a reissue. The point is that this merely a record label gimmick and delivers not much new except better post-studio production.