1991 was a hell of a year for death metal.
Two bands arrived with debut albums that showed just how far the genre could be pushed. New York’s Suffocation with “Effigy of the Forgotten” and Canada’s Gorguts with “Considered Dead”.
Both records came out in 1991, both were recorded at Morrisound Recording with Scott Burns, and both became important pieces of early ’90s death metal.
But they attacked the genre from different directions.
Suffocation – “Effigy of the Forgotten”
Released in 1991, “Effigy of the Forgotten” was Suffocation debut full-length, featuring Frank Mullen, Terrance Hobbs, Doug Cerrito, Josh Barohn and Mike Smith.
The album was recorded in just one week with a budget of $5,000. It brought together fast riffs, blast beats, technical guitar work and crushing breakdowns.
The album also featured guest vocals from a young George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher on “Mass Obliteration”.
And then there’s “Liege of Inveracity”. Its breakdown has been credited as one of the first true slam riffs in death metal, helping lay the groundwork for an entire subgenre.
The album was initially met with mixed reviews, but its reputation grew enormously over time. Today “Effigy of the Forgotten” is regarded as a hugely influential death metal record and a blueprint for much of the ’90s scene.
The Dan Seagrave artwork only adds to the legend.
Gorguts – “Considered Dead”
Released on October 8, 1991, “Considered Dead” was the debut studio album from Canadian death metal band Gorguts.
Luc Lemay, Sylvain Marcoux, Eric Giguere and Stephane Provencher made an album rooted in old-school death metal, but with plenty of technical playing, melodic guitar harmonies and slower, doom-influenced sections.
The album also had some serious guest appearances.
Chris Barnes of Cannibal Corpse contributed backing vocals on three tracks, while James Murphy added a guitar solo to “Inoculated Life”.
Like “Effigy of the Forgotten” the album was recorded at Morrisound with Scott Burns. During the sessions, Gorguts were also able to hear Death working on “Human” in the same studio.
The album gained a cult following over the years and its Dan Seagrave artwork became another memorable piece of early ’90s death metal imagery.
Two debuts. One death metal era.
Suffocation “Effigy of the Forgotten” brought technical brutality, devastating breakdowns and a sound that would influence countless bands.
Gorguts’ “Considered Dead” showed another side of death metal, combining speed and technical complexity with melody and slower, darker passages.
Both came from the same early ’90s death metal explosion.
Now it’s your turn.
Which one are you picking?
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