Symbolic
Symbolic makes complicated metal surprisingly easy to follow. Death give their riffs a clear melodic character and keep allowing the songs to find new directions. The technique remains impressive, yet the music does not require admiration for every difficult part. The songs carry enough feeling to convince without that kind of attention.
The title track immediately demonstrates the balance. Its recognisable guitar figure holds the music together while Gene Hoglan's drums introduce constant small changes. His accents bring movement to riffs already strong enough to work alone. Chuck Schuldiner's higher, sharp delivery keeps the necessary aggression in the sound.
Crystal Mountain connects a direct opening with melodic guitar lines and a quieter finish. The transitions feel logical, making the song memorable without making the music simple. Zero Tolerance takes a more oppressive movement at its heaviest moments. Solos extend the reach of the riffs rather than removing the song's cohesion.
The quieter side is equally important. The opening of Empty Words gives the heavier passages more meaning. Sacred Serenity also allows smaller details in the interaction to remain audible. The record leaves instruments room to support one another, so melody and force do not constantly need to compete for attention.
The long Perennial Quest finishes convincingly with a softer guitar passage. After so much movement, that calm feels earned. The album's length does require more attention than the shorter early records, however. Related melodic devices occasionally return, making some turns less surprising than others.
That minor reservation does little to weaken the complete work. Symbolic keeps its heaviest and most sensitive sides in close contact. The riffs remain memorable, solos have clear functions, and the drums give almost every passage additional life. Death show how much stronger complex music becomes when the songs themselves remain the priority.
