Death - ...For The Whole World To See (Album Review)

 


Death - …For The Whole World To See

(1975)


My copy: 2009 pressing by Drag City.


Sometimes, the world just isn’t ready for a particular style of music. In 1975, the Detroit band Death released a single that was largely overlooked for more than 30 years. An all black proto-punk band made up of three brothers, it’s no surprise that the visionary sound of Death flew under the radar in its time. Fortunately, in 2009 Drag City got ahold of all original tapes of the seven songs recorded by Death back in 1975 and made it widely available. 

…For The Whole World To See is a powerfully creative record that is full of twists and turns. There are undeniable blues riffs on tracks like “Keep On Knocking” and “Rock ‘N Roll Victim” combined with searing but tasteful guitar solos that stop and start on a dime. The vocals are glossy barks and shrieks in some songs and belted laments in others. Death were clearly influenced by their contemporaries with strong hard-rock hooks, but the structure of each song is experimental and unpredictable.

There are more outright punk tracks like “Freakin’ Out” with its dissonant syncopated choruses or “Where Do We Go From Here???” which features chugged/muted guitar and head-spinning descending verses. Death spans multiple genres and influences on this record, “Let The World Turn” begins with mellow guitar chords and calm vocals, only to plunge unsuspecting listeners into a volcano of sizzling guitar and drums. “You’re A Prisoner” features melodic bass grooves and even touches of early psychedelic metal in its choruses. 

The rhythm section is not to be overlooked, the Hackney brothers ensure all instruments are working in unison to deliver some absolutely wicked performances. By far the biggest star of the show is almost six-minute “Politicians In My Eyes.” The lyrics on the record do not stray from themes of political disdain, but none strike a chord quite like the lyrics on this final track. Between Bobby Hackney’s crooned vocal cries and the late David Hackney’s incendiary guitar tones, “Politicians In My Eyes” is a bombshell of a track. Tense drumming and bass spasms give way to an immense breakdown with distorted tones that feel like a minecart full of dynamite grinding along rusty rails. The drumming is immaculate on this final song, and Death indulges us in repetition with this grand finale. 

It’s a shame that at the time, the now lauded work of the Hackney brothers was not appreciated nearly as much as it should have been. …For The Whole World To See is an expansive work, one that only suffers from the conventions and restrictions of its time. It’s truly sad to think the world will never hear what Death might have sounded like with an unlimited budget and more freedom; in spite of this, what we do have is amazing.

    Copies of this record are easy to come by these days thanks to Drag City.

    

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