Text by: Alessandra Felizari
On January 20th, Death to All (comprised of Gene Hoglan , Steve DiGiorgio , Bobby Koeble , and Max Phelps Symbolic Healing tour to Brazil , performing the iconic albums Spiritual Healing and Symbolic Death 's discography . For this article, we've provided an overview of the albums and highlighted 3 essential tracks from each.
The albums Spiritual Healing (1990) and Symbolic (1995) represent two fundamental moments in Death's trajectory, revealing the transition from a band still linked to classic death metal to an increasingly conscious, critical and original project under the leadership of Chuck Schuldiner .
"Spiritual Healing"
In Spiritual Healing , Death definitively abandons the gore imagery that marked their early albums and begins to direct their aggression towards social, ethical, and psychological critiques. The title track, "Spiritual Healing ," is essential because it functions as a manifesto of this change: the song attacks the hypocrisy of religious leaders and the exploitation of faith as a commodity, while maintaining the band's characteristic brutality.
"Living Monstrosity"
“Living Monstrosity” deepens this critical perspective by addressing the issue of child abuse and institutional neglect, showing Schuldiner willing to use death metal as a tool for denunciation — something still uncommon in the genre at the time.
"Within the Mind"
"Within the Mind," on the other hand, stands out for its more introspective reflection, addressing the loss of mental autonomy and psychological collapse, anticipating the more philosophical turn that would solidify in subsequent albums.
“Symbolic”
If Spiritual Healing marks Death's thematic awakening, Symbolic represents their full artistic maturity. In "Symbolic ," the title track of the album, the band achieves a rare balance between technique, melody, and aggression. The song is essential because it condenses Death's ultimate identity: complex riffs, elaborate structures, and an emotional charge that transcends mere sonic violence.
"Crystal Mountain"
“Crystal Mountain” emerges as one of the most emblematic compositions of Schuldiner's career, attacking religious fanaticism and ideological manipulation with clarity, irony, and a memorable melodic sense.
"Empty Words"
Finally, “Empty Words” broadens the critical scope by denouncing the superficiality of political and media discourse, reinforcing Death's concern with truth, language, and moral responsibility.
These six songs, viewed together, reveal Death's evolution from a brutal band to a deeply reflective artistic project. Spiritual Healing inaugurates ethical and social awareness; Symbolic consolidates this awareness in a sophisticated and emotionally dense musical language. It is precisely this combination of critique, technique, and sensitivity that makes these tracks essential—not only within Death's discography, but in the history of extreme metal as a whole.
READ ALSO: Find out the likely setlist for Death To All's shows in Brazil
