Obituary - Cause Of Death (1990)

 

Originally formed in 1984, under the name Executioner. Since there was already a band called Executioner in Boston, they changed it to Xecutioner and then finally to Obituary in 1988, after they signed with Roadrunner Records.

Obituary are considered to be one of the pioneering bands of the death metal genre. They started playing music in the vein of Venom and Celtic Frost. Once the band started hearing groups like Possessed, they realized that they want to make music as "sick as these guys."

Their "The End Complete" album is crowned the best selling pure death metal album ever released, selling over 100,000 copies in the US, and over a quarter million worldwide. Also, the new Obituary logo (as can be seen on "The End Complete") has been considered Roadrunner's best selling shirt print in its history.

Obituary had a six year absence between 1997-2003, because the band members had other priorities to turn to like raising new families and getting "real jobs". The reunion is credited to Donald Tardy's time playing in Andrew W.K.'s band, when, during one live performance in Florida, some of the other Obituary members were present and decided to play some Obituary tunes just for fun for the audience, eventually leading to a full-time reunion.

Allen West was sent to prison in 2007. John Tardy later revealed in an interview that West had been jailed for repeated drink driving offenses. Ralph Santolla, shortly after departing Deicide, replaced him for "Xecutioner's Return". West was arrested again in 2013 after the police discovered a meth lab in his home. In a 2014 interview, John and Donald Tardy said they have lost contact with West, since he was released from prison.

For the 2010 South American tour, Obituary's long time friend and Floridian death metal stalwart Terry Butler (Death, Massacre, Six Feet Under, Denial Fiend, Obliterhate) took on bass duties in place of Frank Watkins. Terry Butler permanently replaced Watkins some time later.

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1.  Infected     05:34
2.  Body Bag     05:48
3.  Chopped in Half     03:43
4.  Circle of the Tyrants (Celtic Frost cover)     04:24

Side B:
5.  Dying     04:29
6.  Find the Arise     02:49
7.  Cause of Death     05:38
8.  Memories Remain     03:44
9.  Turned Inside Out     04:56

 

-Line up:

- John Tardy: Vocals, Lyrics
- James Murphy: Guitars (lead)
- Trevor Peres: Guitars (rhythm), Songwriting (tracks 1-3, 5-9)
- Frank Watkins (R.I.P. 2015): Bass
- Donald Tardy: Drums, Songwriting (tracks 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9).

 

 

Label: Roadracer Records.

 

 Including printed inner sleeve with credits, photo- and graphic art.

The cover art was supposed to be the cover of Sepultura's album Beneath the Remains but Roadrunner Records let Obituary use it first even though Cause of Death was released in 1990, a year after "Beneath the Remains". Sepultura chose another Michael Whelan illustration instead.
Reissued by Roadrunner Records on September 9th 2003 as a part of Roadrunner's Two from the Vault series remastered along with Slowly We Rot on 2 CD's, CD 2 has the same bonus tracks as the 1998 reissue.

Co-produced by Obituary.
Recorded and mixed at Morrisound Studios, Tampa, Florida.
Mastered at Fullersound, Miami, Florida.

 All songs published by Roadblock Music (ASCAP) / Roadster Music B.V., except B5 by Wintrup Music

 Logo by Rob Mayworth.

 Mixed by Scott Burns.

 Mastered by Mike Fuller.

 Manufactured in the Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

 25.4.2011 Sala Capitol, Santiago de Compostela, (Esp)