You know, I didn't even think about it when I picked this album to review, but Chuck's death struck us all 3 years ago this past Monday. With that said, I would like to dedicate this following review to his memory and also to the spirits of metal bands today that keep his spirit alive in their music.

But with that aside, after Death's Human album, this is my second favorite work to come from the mind of Schuldiner. Shannon and Chuck's guitar playing is amazing, Richard's drumming is outstanding, Steve's bass playing is just short of godly, and Tim's vocals fit in perfectly. Something else I like about this album as well is the fact that it is completely different than anything Schuldiner EVER wrote or composed before. It showed that he was very capable as a musician in a style other than his signature style of Death Metal. It also has Chuck backing down from his normal vocal duties to concentrate more on the musicianship of his playing on this one. By doing that, in my opinion, I think this album was one of, if not THE, most techincal albums he had ever written.

Opening up the album is the wicked playing from Steve on the song "Consumed", but then quickly Chuck and Shannon jump in with that really driving opening riff. With Tim's vocals on this song, it SORT OF reminds me of Jag Panzer. Next on the list is the song "Breaking the Broken", and from the sound of this, it seems that this album may have influenced Jon and Hansi on Demons and Wizards, because the beginning of this song with the choir like chanting. My favorite on the album if I had to pick one, "Expect the Unexpected", is next. I really love that part where Tim screams the title and it has that badass riff playing with it. "What If...?" is next, and once again, Steve's bass playing abilities are very apparent and very impressive. The next song is "When The Link Becomes Missing", which is another scorcher. Damn this album is getting better and better the more I listen to it, I am listneing to it now and I am just like "Damn". Ok, back on the subject of reviewing again. "Believe" is next, this one sounds the most like it could have been on a Death album. Comming in next to last on the tracklist is "Cut Down", probably my least favorite song on the album, but that isn't saying much as they all kick ass. "The Fragile Art Of Existence" is the last song on the album, and it definitly ranks up there with my favorites on this one, and also ranks in at the longest song on the album, comming in just at 9:38.

Damn, that was nice, I'm glad I decided to review that one this week, as I haven't listened to it in a while and it was good to know it hits me just as hard as the first time i heard it. No Death fan should be without this album, and no fan of this cd should be without at least some of the Death back catolog. This "side-project" was very unique for someone like Chuck, because it is almost completely different of what we were used to from him and the Death camp, but yet, they are both a lot alike as well. The connection and differences are wierd, and worth a listen to figure them out for yourselves. I bought this cd from a website about 4 months ago and I got it new for 5 dollars. After hearing it, it is a travesty that this album can go for as little as 5 dollars with all of the great music that is on it. If you are a fan of Chuck's at all, or want to become one, then by all means, please pick up this album, it is VERY well worth it.