Human
Human finds its strength in the combination of complicated playing and a notably compact form. Death fit many ideas into short songs while usually maintaining a clear direction. The guitars remain heavy, the vocals are fierce, and the rhythms contain far more detail than a simple backing pattern would provide.
Flattening of Emotions begins with drums that immediately demand attention. Sean Reinert makes his part an active element within the song. The riffs follow with enough force to balance the technical details. The music sounds precise without suggesting that the performance matters more than the composition.
Suicide Machine and Secret Face show how well the guitars connect their complicated lines. Riffs regularly change shape, and solos give the songs additional colour. Chuck Schuldiner's voice keeps everything firmly on the heavy side. His rough, clear delivery helps the music remain focused while so much happens around it.
Cosmic Sea allows the bass a greater opportunity to come forward. The instrumental reveals another side of the same musicians, leaving space for atmosphere and a recognisable bass passage. That contrast makes it easier to appreciate the details within the harder material too. Human can broaden its sound while retaining its heavy foundation.
The production is clear enough to follow much of the guitar and drum work, but elsewhere the bass too often disappears behind the other instruments. That is unfortunate for a player contributing so much. Some songs also remain close in character despite the impressive parts within them.
These limits do little to weaken the album's appeal. Human is short enough to sustain its intensity and contains enough ideas to use that time well. Death connect technical ability with strong riffs and clearly formed songs. The complexity matters because the music can remain so immediate at the same time.
