Obituary released their second album, “Cause of Death”, on September 19, 1990 via Roadrunner — and together with “Slowly We Rot” it is today considered a landmark for death metal. Recorded at Morrisound in Tampa with Scott Burns producing, it remains one of the genre’s most distinctive and recognizable albums.
Country: USA
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Death, Morbid Angel, Celtic Frost
The listen
The big difference from its predecessor is the presence of James Murphy on guitar — the man many consider the godfather of death metal, known from Death. He brings his own style, resulting in an album that sounds like a hybrid of Obituary and Death: the spine-chilling ambient touches and sound effects combine with direct power, with tempos alternating between fire, mid-tempo groove and crushing doom — in the school of Asphyx and Autopsy.
“Chopped in Half” is one of the record’s most recognizable riffs, the cover of Celtic Frost’s “Circle of the Tyrants” was honoured with the approval of Tom G. Warrior himself, while “Cause of Death” has one of the most beautiful melodic intros in death metal. “Turned Inside Out” and “Memories Remain” continue with the roar of John Tardy — one of the genre’s most distinctive and tormented — tearing everything apart.
In a world full of interchangeable death metal bands, Obituary built an instantly recognizable sound: heavy, crushing but not at space speed, with Murphy shining. Thirty years later, several rank it among the five best death metal albums of all time — and Obituary played it in full live at the 2019 Decibel Metal & Beer Fest.
See also
Obituary’s John Tardy reveals more details · Massacre – “Tyrants of Death” returns remastered
