Customer Reviews

Leprosy

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Leprosy, Death's second album, shows some fairly substantial growth from their already solid debut. It's still just straight forward old-school Death metal, but Chuck's got a better voice and more interesting lead work than most, and the songwriting is a step above the competition. All in all, an excellent album.

The biggest weakness is Rozz's lead work. It tends to be a bit on the laughable side, mainly a bunch of trem bar squealing and obnoxious trills. It's not too much of a problem, as they tend to be short, and frankly a bit amusing even if they aren't exactly enojoyable from a music standpoint. Chuck's leads make up for his deficiency, however. He's nowhere near as proficient as he'd become, but he's still exhibits why he's my favorite lead guitarist. He always has just the right combination of melody and speed, never being too melodic for the musical backdrop, but never zooming off in to tedious squealing, as do many DM lead guitarists.

This has some rather excellent DM production. Still fairly raw, but has just enough definition, and it's still very bulky and thick sounding.(unlike many roughly produced albums) The drum sound is perhaps a bit over the top(I can't imagine a snare drum sounding like that in the real world) but it still works pretty well, giving the album a really great rhythmic punch. You can even hear the bass quite a bit of the time, though it usually isn't doing anything of particular interest.

Every track here is good. They don't have much variety, though most of them have a pretty memorable chorus, so they don't just blur together. The riffwork is very nice, with a good combination a chunky, thrashier riffs with blazing, death metal trem riffs.(which can get tedious if they are overused, which they are not here) It's mostly very fast, though it sticks with thrash styled drumming rather than using blast-beats. Plus Chuck gives what is probably his best vocal performance ever. Very intense with out ever going over the top. The title track gives you a good sense of what's to come, with lightning riffs and a rather ferocious(if simple) drum assault, while still managing to have a memorable chorus and pre-chorus. The next to tracks are both very good, but Left to Die is the next real stand-out, and probably the second best track on the album. The chorus is fantastic, and it has a great middle break, containing what is definitely Chuck's best solo on the album. Next comes the much famed Pull the Plug, and I must say that I think this song deserves it's reputation. I would dare say that it has perhaps the best, most memorable chorus ever heard in a metal song.(certainly the best in thrash or death metal) The song is brilliantly written in it's simplicity. The progression from the slow verses to the sprinting pre-chorus to the absolutely crushing mosh-riff of the chorus works beautifully, all topped off with another cool lead from Schuldiner. Simply a fantastic song. Open Casket is next, and is another good one. It's a bit more progressive and unpredictable than most of the other tracks, and Chuck gives an especially eerie vocal performance.(listen to when he sings, Touch the Fleah, it is so cold.) This is partially offset by the following Rozz-penned Primitive Ways, which is easily the most straight-forward and simple track on the album. It's perhaps the weakest song on the album, and it's still pretty cool. Choke on It reminds is another more progressive piece. A bit slower and less heavy overall, with another great chorus.

All in all, this is another Death classic. Buy it.

This is a great metal album. Chuck Shuldiner was a musical genius. If you like speed or thrash metal and you are looking to get into death metal, immediately buy this album. That's the way it happened for me. Anyway, this album is heavy and great. The riffs are similar to Slayer at times, only heavier. The riffs are great. The solos are awesome, and they are in every song. The vocals on this album are great, Chuck is still my favorite Death metal vocalist. He is much better than the guys from Cannibal Corpse or any other death metal band. My favorite songs would have to be "Leprosy", "Pull the Plug", "Primitive Ways" and "Choke On It", but they are all great, and there's no filler. Basically, if you're into thrash/death metal, there is no way you can go wrong with this album. It was sad to hear about Chuck's death, and even though I've only recently discovered Death, I will miss him. R.I.P. Chuck

Along with Metallica's "Kill 'Em All" and Slayer's "Reign In Blood," this is the most pure form of metal ever. This is metal the way it was meant to be played, and many bands wouldn't be around today were it not for Death. "Leprosy" is an ultra-..., in your face, drive you through the ground sludgefest. Songs like "Born Dead" and "Primitive Ways" just bludgeon you with their raw brutality. Chuck Schuldiner and Rick Rozz are a great guitar duo. The solos are a definite plus and nothing short of impressive, but they are overshadowed by Schuldiner's brutal riffing and raw vocals. The drumming by Bill Andrews is also great, as there's plenty of double bass and cool fills to go around. I can't complain about any of the songs on this CD. They are all amazing, but newbies should immediately check out "Pull The Plug." Many regard it as one of the best Death songs. As for the rest of the CD, it's fast, heavy, and brutal with plenty of great guitar solos and riffs to keep you entertained for a long time. So, if you have a penchant for true metal, pick this up. You will not be disappointed.

"Leprosy" is early American death metal, meaning basically that it's extreme thrash with deeper, scarier vocals. While not as technical or diverse as subsequent Death efforts, "Leprosy" makes up for these shortcomings with its bludgeoning heaviness. The album varies in tempo from kind of fast to really fast, never sacrificing its intensity even during instrumental interludes. The production is rather raw, fitting for the type of music being played. The riffing is downtuned and heavy as hell and the leads shred; Schuldiner and Rozz were an excellent guitar combo. In the background, the drums smack relentlessly and the bass is lower than low. And of course, who can forget Chuck Schuldiner's vocals? His guttural voice, half-scream and half-growl, perfectly matched the overall "sick" sound of the album. I can't quite justify giving this album five stars, as every song is basically the same, but it's still more like four and a half stars. It's too bad about Chuck's premature demise. His talents will be missed, even by new fans like myself.

This is a must have for anyone into speed/death metal. When this album was released it received some scathing reviews from journalists who had never heard anything heavier than Bon Jovi or Motley Crue, but those of us who enjoy true heavy metal fell in love with it. Unfortunately Rick Rozz left Death shortly after "Leprosy" was released, so this was the only Schuldiner/Rozz collaboration; that is a shame, because heavy metal doesn't get any better than this.

CHUCKIE & COMPANY GOT IT RIGHT ON THEIR 2ND TRY. CONTAINS SOME OF THE BEST METAL AROUND, WHATEVER LABEL YOU GIVE IT. NOT AS MUDDY SOUNDING AS SOME LATER CDS BY THEM. "PULL THE PLUG" IS AS GOOD OF A SONG AS YOU WILL EVER HEAR BY ANY GROUP. A MUST HAVE.

Before i get into the review, lemme talk to that kid who had the balls to give this classic 1 star: go to hell! Chuck Schuldiner was one of the best guitarists of all time!!! He slays ALL of those bands you posted (not to say they're bad, they're all good)! If you say it takes no talent, have you ever tried PLAYING IT YOURSELF?!?!?!??!?! Hahahahahaha! Bet ya can't solo like Chuck could! Go back to listening to your gay Poison poseur metal.

Now back to the album. Death's second album, Leporsy (1988) is one of the biggest improvements in metal history, if not, in all of music. The lyrics, in particular, have changed. On their debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, the lyrics were inspired by horror films and were violently gory, in the vein of Cannibal Corpse. Here, however, the lyrics are AMAZING. This album also contains killer guitar solos, insane double-bass drumming, great bass-lines, and brilliant vocals/lyrics! Not to mention some killer rhythm work from guitarist Rick Rozz (shame he only lasted for this album and the next one). The album starts out with the tital track, which contains an awesome long, high-pitched scream from Chuck. The next song, Born Dead also is kcik-ass. My favorite songs are Leprosy, Born Dead, Forgotten Past, Left To Die, Pull The Plug, Open Casket, Primitive Ways, and Chocke On It. Have you noticed that I mentioned ALL the songs? Well, it's because EVERY song here is a masterpiece! Overall, a greta album, but start with Symbolic of The Sound of Perseverance; those are their best albums and best places to start. Thank you for reading!!!

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner 1967-2001.

This aslbum is incredible! everything about it is top notch. The only reason I did not give it five stars is that the lyrics hear are gore metal lyrics and do not delve into the deeper philosophical and social issues discussed on later albums. But the music is intense, possible Death's most brutal work. If you want a talentaed and intelligent death metal, listen to Death! The passing of Chuck is a terrible tragedy; we have lost death metal's greatest thinker. But through the music and the new fans that can't help but be won, his legacy shall remain. Death Forever!!!!!!!

Well people, Metal just doesn't come in a more crystalized form. You won't find any Punk influence, meatheaded Hard rock or obnoxious Glam rock and Power metal nonsense here, just 100% METAL. This is a PERFECT Death metal album chock full of conviction, hooks, good lyrics, and good musicianship (although it doesn't hold a candle to the proficiency displayed on ITP, Symbolic and TSOP). I can't imagine anyone with a taste for pure Metal disliking this. If you like this, I also recommend listening to Vomitory and Pestilence. "Let the metal flow"-Chuck Schuldiner

Don't be fooled by the above review from "a music fan from UK". When I first picked up this album back in 1988, my whole world was changed and an appreciation for speed-metal developed. It definately deserves all 5 stars. Personally, I feel Death's latest releases have yet to surpass Leprosy. I found the music style on this CD simliar to the above mentioned bands that the UK music fan pointed out, like Entombed. However, Leprosy possess more than just that raw, speed-metal, head-crushing sound. The rythms, riffs, and breaks in each song, especially "Open Casket", are delivered with intelligence that is rarely found with other speed-metal bands. This is definately a must have!