In a word, MASTERPIECE! The Death Metal masters of Doom, Obituary, released their best selling album of all time on April 21, 1992 – The End Complete. While the band’s first two records (1989’s Slowly We Rot, and 1990’s Cause of Death) have their most iconic songs, it is the third album where we find the sound, tuning, style, sludge grooves, and raspy gutterals that have made Obituary, literally, world famous. Over 550,000 copies of this album have been sold world wide.
When I was little, my first memory of Obituary was when my dad (“The O.G. Metalhead”) was playing Rotting Ways off of this album, and all I could say was, “this is scary!” All of their music has that creepy, eerie, horror vibe. Its like my love for horror movies, only its horror music. And The End Complete capitalizes on that darkness to deliver a truly horrifying 36 minutes and 17 seconds.
You will not find the usual lyrical content, here, that is the norm for Death Metal. Here, are the roars, screeches, shrieks, gurgles and pure agony as only John Tardy (vocals) can deliver. Layered behind, within, above, and below is the rhythmic hauntings of Trevor Perez (guitar), Allen West (lead guitar), and Frank Watkins (Bass). And the bruising beatings of Donald Tardy (drums) completes the terror. Interestingly, none of Obituary’s albums have warning labels, because there is no cussing or “controversial content.” This, Butcher Crew, is simply the sound of sheer horror!
The Track Listing will give you a taste of what’s to come:
- I’m in Pain
- Back to One
- Dead Silence
- In the End of Life
- Sickness
- Corrosive
- Killing Time
- The End Complete
- Rotting Ways
Favorite Songs: I’m in Pain ; Sickness ; Rotting Ways
Rating: 10/10!! An Absolute Masterpiece!
Bonus – Iconic Obituary songs for your enjoyment:
Slowly We Rot ; Intoxicated ; Chopped In Half ; Cause of Death ; Back From the Dead ;
Contrast the Dead ; Redneck Stomp
What are some of your favorite songs off of “The End Complete?”
Stay Metal,
THE SAW