''Spiritual Healing'' is the third studio album by American death metal band

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

, released on February 16, 1990, by

Combat Records Combat Records was an American independent record label founded in 1983 and based in New York City. The label specifically was for heavy metal and punk rock acts, Notable artist include: Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, OZ, Deat ...

. It is the band's only album to feature both guitarist James Murphy and bassist

Terry Butler Terry Butler is an American bassist who currently performs with the death metal bands Obituary and Inhuman Condition. He was also a member of Six Feet Under, Massacre and Death. He was credited on the Death album ''Spiritual Healing'', and ...

and the last to feature drummer Bill Andrews.

Overview

''Spiritual Healing'' was the first of Death's albums to show Schuldiner's lyrics moving away from the gore and horror themes of previous works, focusing instead on themes of society and "real life horror", including

serial killers A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A * * * * with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...

drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use oft ...

, genetic reconstruction (influenced by a story on ''

That's Incredible! ''That's Incredible!'' is an American reality television show that aired on the ABC television network from 1980 to 1984. In the tradition of ''You Asked for It'', '' Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' and ''Real People'', the show featured people ...

''), and

faith healers Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures (such as laying on of hands) that are believed by some to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing, especially the Christian practice. Believers assert that the healing ...

. The musical content is more obviously melodic, a facet highlighted by James Murphy's characteristic lead guitar playing. The members of Death and their manager/co-producer

Eric Greif Eric Greif (1962 – 2021) was an American lawyer and entertainment personality known for a management and record production career within the heavy metal musical genre in the 1980s and early 1990s, and later within the legal profession. He was ...

stayed in a single motel room at the Safari Inn, near Busch Gardens, for the entire six weeks the album was recorded and mixed, although bassist

and drummer Bill Andrews frequently went home as they lived in the Tampa area. This was the final Death album cover painted by

Ed Repka Edward J. Repka (born October 22, 1960) is an American graphic artist, best known for creating album covers for metal bands as well as shirt designs, including those featuring Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead. Repka's portfolio also includes Dar ...

. This period was one of massive controversy for Death, as Butler and Andrews toured Europe without Schuldiner (who refused to do the tour on the basis that it had been badly organised), with vocalist Louis Carrisalez in his place. Butler and Andrews left the band following the tour. Greif played a Kawai K1 keyboard part in the middle of title track "Spiritual Healing". The "joke & jam" tracks on the ''Spiritual Healing'' re-issue were a result of

heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion is a severe form of heat illness. It is a medical emergency. Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of water and electrolytes through sweating. The United States Department of Labor makes the following recommendation, "Heat illness ...

, as the band was practicing in a mini warehouse in summer with no air conditioning. The band would play a few songs then stop, as they would be close to passing out from the intense heat. The album had been out of print, but was reissued by Relapse Records in November 2012.

Track listing

Personnel

;Death *

Chuck Schuldiner Charles Schuldiner (born May 13, 1967 – December 13, 2001) was an American musician. He founded the death metal band Death in 1983, in which he was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter and only consistent member until his death in ...

– vocals, guitar, producer * James Murphy – guitar *

– bass * Bill Andrews – drums ;Production *

– producer, management, keyboard on "Spiritual Healing" * Scott Burns and – engineer, mixing with Death * John Cervini, Mike Gowan – assistant engineers * Alan Douches – remastering at West West Side Music * Edward Repka – artwork, cover design * David Bett – art direction * Brian Freeman – design * J.J. Hollis – photography

References

External links

Spiritual Healing - Lyrics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spiritual Healing (Album) 1990 albums Death (metal band) albums Combat Records albums Relapse Records albums Albums recorded at Morrisound Recording Albums with cover art by Ed Repka