Customer Reviews

Slowly We Rot

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When this came out in 1989 Obituary had quite a few demos under their sleeves. They were releasing demos under the name Xecutioner as far back as 1986. There was also something else Obituary had going for them -no one else sounded like them. As far as early Death Metal goes, and I have tons of demo tapes from this period, this album exemplifies everything a good band should have.

Shortly before releasing the great "Slowly we Rot" Xecutioner changed their name to Obituary, I suppose because they didn't want to get confused with the Thrash band (a good one at that) from Boston with the same name.

The guitar duo of Peres and West go from the slugdy slow heavy as all hell riffs to the lighting fast (in comparison to the verses) wild solos. The drumming ala Don Tardy is also very simple and goes from a mid-tempo to a slow thrashing of the high-hats, to hitting the crash cymbals to the breaking point. All of this is connected by the vocalist John Tardy's undeciferable signing and gutteral noises that make the music all that much more threatening sounding. I really hate most of the cliche Death Metal "cookie monster" vocals (as best exampled by Cannibal Corpse) but Tardy I could always admire. He just did it so well. It was the sound of decay coming forth from his throat.

The lesson of Obituary is a very good one. They could play fast if they wanted to but...They proved that to play really heavy music it was better if you played really slowly in order to emphasize the heaviness of it. Just like Black Sabbath had done a generation earlier, Obituary made into a science. They took the wild solos from mid 80s Slayer, the ferocity of S.F.'s Possessed, and the lessons from Black Sabbath, as well as their own stylings to create a totally original sound.

I'd say Death Metal started (and maybe ended) with Obituary, but most people ceed the title of king of Death Metal to Death mainman Chuck Schuldiner. But if he wasn't around in '89, Obituary would've been the undisputed kings. Take it from me, when this came there was nothing like it. The remastering is pretty good too. A must own.

After over 15 years since I last heard their music, I decided to pick up this CD. It is the ultimate in true death metal. I don't even listen to this type of music any more, but I listen to this CD. For anyone new to the genre; don't start here... you will be dissapointed in anything else you listen to in the genre from here on out.

I would actually give this CD 6 stars but it's not possible! This CD opens up with some echoes of demons growling or something then the band kicks in and "BLLLAAAAAUUGGG!"! Man, that part is a classic! This is an awesome release and the heaviest album ever laid down. Not cliched Death Metal but a wank-o-rama continuing guitar solo. More solos are found here than on CDs like Back From the Dead and The End Complete. The vocals aren't the usual Death Metal vocals but that of screaming mixed with growling. Very unique. The guitar tone is also very crunchy, down-tuned, heavy and unique. If you like Suffocation, Dismember, Master or Incantation, you will LOVE this CD! The guitarist, Allen West, can also be found on Six Feet Under's first 2 discs called Haunted and Warpath. Those discs also come recommended. They don't sound like Obituary at all, but they are "The AC/DC of Death Metal". Get this CD now!

I've bought this album 10 years ago...wow, I'm an old man now.
But still I can't stop the CD once I start to play, because I don't know when to stop.
All the songs can be entitled as masterpieces, true heaviness and insanity ties my body and soul like a chain
and won't let go even after the play stops by itself. And this has been the same for 10 years.
I sincerely recommend this one and their live album for those about to rock until the death greets their hearts...

This is Obituary's debut, and it has every attribute of early death-metal records. What works favourably in this record, is it's brutality and great growling vocals. Remeber, this is 80s' recording, not contemporary stuff!

But sadly, this type of music hasn't aged well, partly because few years later the scene was flooded with plenty of brutal bands sounding mostly the same.
And personally I prefer Obituary's 2 succeeding record, "Cause of Death" and "The End Complete" where they play more of the same, but matured somewhat.

This is truly one of the best death metal releases of all time! there is no doubt about it, Obituary is one of my favorite death metal groups of all time. There are a few defining death metal bands...Possessed, Death, Malevolent Creation, Celtic Frost, Hypocrisy, Cannibal Corpse etc. and I believe that this cd and band goes along with those names. The music of Obituary is truly from the depths of hell, with John Tardy's distinctive scream/growl vocals, obituary has made a name for themselves. the guitars and drums on this record are also amazing (a lot of double bass with the drums!...check out the start of the title track). Slowly We Rot by Obituary is still every bit as relevant, not to mention gut wrenchingly ferocious, today as it was on the day of it's release back in 1989.

From the first eerie moments of "Internal Bleeding" transcending to a thrash laden riff with the slightest dash of sludge, it is immediately clear we are in for something special. Not only a great song but a perfect album opener. Tardy delivers a truly punishing performance with his clearly distinguishable voice, growling like a wounded beast, he pummels each and every listener into the sudden awareness that something colossal is taking place. From this moment on Obituary never let up on the intensity and aggression. By the time third track "'Til Death" kicks in the album is in full swing. Malicious riffing from Trevor Peres and Allen West, crushing drumming and Tardy dominating on vocals with his trademark growls. Right through the sludgy title track to the lightning fast "Gates To Hell" which is arguably the best Obituary song ever, every track here offers something new to the fray. Adding more and more fire power to the band's already impressive arsenal. The manner in which these men display their skill, with perpetual confidence and blinding force, not to mention the quality of music that develop from this.

Slowly We Rot is an unrelenting album that simply desecrates everything that stands in its path. An album that would ultimately propel Obituary to legendary status. An album that truly set the standard in terms of quality, belligerence and raw power for every extreme metal release that was to follow. Obituary remain one of the most original death metal bands in style. An undisputed seminal masterpiece and an essential for all who appreciate the genre. Perhaps the sound quality isn't quite up to their later records (this was apparently the first record where the now legendary Scott Burns ever produced) but the downtuned guitars are still shockingly heavy for the time. Obituary probably peaked with their 2nd album `Cause Of Death', but their debut remains an essential buy for all death metal fans. I'm sure if Satan got to pick 5 cds made by humans, this would be the one he would pick ;-).

41 minutes of grinding, snarling guitar riffs, pounding drums, chaotic guitar solos and some of the most demonic vocals ever recorded. This is Obituary's "Slowly We Rot". This is hands-down one of the most crucial death metal albums ever recorded! Of course, Cannibal Corpse essentially invented the "brutal death metal" subgenre a year later in 1990 with their "Eaten Back To Life" album, and Death is considered the first, real death metal band, BUT Obituary gave us so much intensity and ferocity with this album, that it's simply mind-blowing.

In a similar way to how Slayer took ten songs in 29 minutes with "Reign in Blood", this remastered edition of "Slowly We Rot" contains 14 songs in just over 41 minutes...wow. That's intense, if I do say so myself! Although most of the songs do sound similar and do not contain the dynamics of more progressive or experimental metal sub-genres, there are some interesting touches on several songs. For example, the title track "Slowly We Rot" opens with a slow, almost doom-metal sounding guitar riff. "Gates of Hell" is in the key of B-minor, instead of E-minor like most songs, so the riff is slightly more melodic and creepier.

And wow, I still can't get over how evil John Tardy sounds on this album. About 99 percent of the time, his vocals are essentially indecipherable, and yet ironically he doesn't even technically use death growls! He uses a sort of voice more akin to Morbid Angel's vocal work. Between this, Allen and Trevor blasting riff after riff from their guitars and John's brother Don Tardy pounding his drums like it was a dark ritual, this album delivers everything stripped-down, old-school death metal should deliver. A true classic to put it simply! Thanks for the time, and peace.

This is my favorite by Obituary. They were one of the first Death metal bands in existence. In their sound they utilize slower tempos in some parts. The kick drum is always pounding and the guitar solos are plentiful. I highly recommend this.

i realy enjoy listining to "obituary". They are difirent from many death metal bands. This is a must have if your into fast,dark and agressive death metal. Buy it !

Like the Elizabeth Fraser of death metal, Obituary vocalist John Tardy belches lyrics made of inhuman growls rather than words. His vokills are one of the few original elements of the first side of Slowly We Rot, which for the most part is primitive, Slayeresque thrash. The band begins to pick up momentum, and by the second side the songs become more interesting and complex; "Suffocation" and "Intoxication" show a variety of speed changes and interesting riffage. The albums closer "Stinkupuss", is an example of how good death metal can be when it clicks: starting on a memorable mid-tempo riff, the song suddenly gets fast, then much faster, finally settling into a mosh tempo groove with Tardy howling on top of the whole thing. My main gripe about this album is the way the songs either abruptly stop out of nowhere, or suddenly do a bad studio fade. There are certainly some example of dubious production here, but overall Obituary display a heaviness and a thrash-overkill sound that is often thrilling. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.