Review by illusionist for Death - Symbolic (1995)

Oh, baby. All of these tracks, yes - all of them, are brimming with unique and energetic riffs, phenomenal drumming, and stellar production.

But lots of great Death Metal albums have these qualities, you say! So what sets Symbolic apart even further? What gives it crossover appeal to listeners outside of usual Death Metal fans? That would be an ear for songwriting/composition to match any of the Rock greats, intelligent lyrics about society with easy-to-understand harsh vocals, and an overall genuinity not commonly seen in Death Metal.

But back to those riffs. Chuck Schuldiner is a true Guitar God because he did something really difficult: over the course of the Death discography, he developed his own sound and style of riffing that is immediately identifiable to HIM. On this release, Schuldiner refines his craft to a new level of potency.

This is the pinnacle of Death and a monumental album in progressive metal and death metal.