Cause Of Death album cover

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Obituary ‎– Cause Of Death

Genre:
Rock
Style:
Death Metal
Year:
1990
Notes:
Originally released on September 19th, 1990.

Cause of Death is the second album by American death metal band Obituary and considered a classic album in the history of death metal.

It is their first release with longtime member Frank Watkins on bass, and also their first and only album with guitarist James Murphy, previously of the group Death.

The artwork was done by artist Michael Whelan, the original art is titled "Lovecraft's nightmare"

The cover art of this album was used in an H.P. Lovecraft collection, Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre, and part of it was used in The Tomb and The Doom That Came to Sarnath paperbacks.

It was supposed to be the cover of Sepultura's album Beneath the Remains, but Roadrunner Records let Obituary use it first.
Roadrunner Records forced Sepultura to use another Michael Whelan illustration for Beneath the Remains.

Tracklist

Infected 5:34
Body Bag 5:48
Chopped In Half 3:43
Circle Of The Tyrants 4:24
Dying 4:29
Find The Arise 2:49
Cause Of Death 5:38
Memories Remain 3:44
Turned Inside Out 4:56

Credits (14)

Versions (80)

Cat# Artist Title (Format) Label Cat# Country Year
RO 9370-1 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album) Roadracer Records RO 9370-1 Europe 1990 Sell This Version
RR 9370-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album) R/C Records RR 9370-2 US 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album) Roadracer Records RO 9370-2 UK & Europe 1990 Sell This Version
RCD 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album) R/C Records RCD 9370 US 1990 Sell This Version
APCY-8038 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album) Far East Metal Syndicate, Roadrunner Records APCY-8038 Japan 1990 Sell This Version
RRD-9370, RRD 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Club) R/C Records, R/C Records RRD-9370, RRD 9370 US 1990 Sell This Version
RCD 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Lon) R/C Records RCD 9370 US 1990 Sell This Version
RCC 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadrunner Records RCC 9370 Europe 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370-4 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadracer Records, CBS RO 9370-4 Malaysia 1990 Sell This Version
RR 9370-4 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadrunner Records RR 9370-4 US 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370 4 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadracer Records RO 9370 4 1990 Sell This Version
RCC 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) R/C Records RCC 9370 US 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370 4 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadracer Records RO 9370 4 Netherlands 1990 Sell This Version
176 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadrunner Records, Güneş Plak Ve Kaset 176 Turkey 1990 Sell This Version
CRC RRC 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Club, Col) R/C Records CRC RRC 9370 US 1990 Sell This Version
RCC 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Promo) R/C Records RCC 9370 US 1990 Sell This Version
A-201 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) ALF A-201 Poland 1990 Sell This Version
B.M.-186 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Baron Music B.M.-186 Poland 1990 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1990 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1990 Sell This Version
610 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Tact 610 Poland 1990 Sell This Version
3.189 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album) Estúdio Eldorado 3.189 Brazil 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370 8 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, Pic) Roadracer Records RO 9370 8 UK & Europe 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370-1 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Unofficial, Pin) Roadracer Records RO 9370-1 South Korea 1990 Sell This Version
RO 9370-1 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Unofficial, Whi) Roadracer Records RO 9370-1 South Korea 1990 Sell This Version
KG-0980791 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadrunner Records, Roadracer Records KG-0980791 Indonesia 1991 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1991 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1992 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1992 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1992 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1992 Sell This Version
MG 0306 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) MG Records (2) MG 0306 Poland 1992 Sell This Version
610 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Unofficial) Takt Music 610 Poland 1992 Sell This Version
MASS 0081 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Blu) Metal Mind Records MASS 0081 Poland 1993 Sell This Version
MASS 0081 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Whi) Metal Mind Records MASS 0081 Poland 1993 Sell This Version
none Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) ГОБЛИН Records none Russia 1996 Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Club, RE, RM, Gol) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 US 1997 Sell This Version
168 618 767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Roadrunner Records 168 618 767-2 US 1997 Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, Gol) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 USA & Canada 1997 Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, Gol) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 Europe 1997 Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RM) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 Europe 1997 Sell This Version
RCD 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Unofficial) Спюрк, R/C Records (2) RCD 9370 Russia 1997 Sell This Version
RR 9370-4 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, RE) Koch International Poland RR 9370-4 Poland 1997 Sell This Version
RR 8767-1 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, RE, RM) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-1 US 1997 Sell This Version
RR 8767-2, RR8767-2, 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Roadrunner Records, Roadrunner Records, Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2, RR8767-2, 8767-2 Brazil 1998 Sell This Version
MASS 0511 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, RE) Metal Mind Records MASS 0511 Poland 1998 Sell This Version
RR131053 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Metal Blade Records RR131053 India 2001 Sell This Version
RRCY-23054 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Roadrunner Records RRCY-23054 Japan 2002 Sell This Version
MASS CD 0511 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM) Metal Mind Productions MASS CD 0511 Poland 2002 Sell This Version
MOFR 00124 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, Unofficial) Monsters Of Rock MOFR 00124 Russia 2002 Sell This Version
RR 9370-4 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Roadrunner Records, Moon Records (2), Ukrainian Records RR 9370-4 Ukraine 2002 Sell This Version
RRCY-25058 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Ltd, RE) Roadrunner Records RRCY-25058 Japan 2008 Sell This Version
RRCAR 8767-1 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, RE, RM) Roadrunner Records, Cargo Records RRCAR 8767-1 Europe 2010 Sell This Version
WQCP-1566 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Ltd, RE, RM) Roadrunner Records, Warner Music, Tower Records (4) WQCP-1566 Japan 2015 Sell This Version
RCD 9370 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Unofficial) R/C Records (2) RCD 9370 Russia 2017 Sell This Version
POSH442 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE) Listenable Records POSH442 France 2019 Sell This Version
POSH443 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Blu) Listenable Records POSH443 Europe 2019 Sell This Version
POSH443 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red) Listenable Records POSH443 Europe 2019 Sell This Version
POSH443 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RP, Red) Listenable Records POSH443 France 2019 Sell This Version
POSH443 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Ltd, RP, Tra) Listenable Records POSH443 France 2019 Sell This Version
POSH443 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RE, RP, Ora) Listenable Records POSH443 France 2020 Sell This Version
POSH443 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(LP, Album, Ltd, RE, RP, Red) Listenable Records POSH443 France 2020 Sell This Version
JRCD-1121 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album) Jigu Records JRCD-1121 South Korea Unknown Sell This Version
RR 9370-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, Club) Roadrunner Records RR 9370-2 Canada Unknown Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 Netherlands Unknown Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 Netherlands Unknown Sell This Version
RR 8767-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RE, RM, RP) Roadrunner Records RR 8767-2 Netherlands Unknown Sell This Version
RO 9370-2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RP) Roadracer Records RO 9370-2 UK & Europe Unknown Sell This Version
RO 9370-2, RO 9370 2 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(CD, Album, RP) Roadracer Records, Roadracer Records RO 9370-2, RO 9370 2 Europe Unknown Sell This Version
JRPC-1121 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album) Jigu Records Corporation JRPC-1121 South Korea Unknown Sell This Version
none Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Not On Label none Bulgaria Unknown Sell This Version
none Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Moon Records (2), WVS Records none Ukraine Unknown Sell This Version
565 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) ST Records (2) 565 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
MM-0598 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Mag Magic MM-0598 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
S.327 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Starling S.327 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
AS-127 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) ASTA AS-127 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
ZM:149 Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) DECK ZM:149 Poland Unknown Sell This Version
none Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Not On Label (Obituary) none Unknown Sell This Version
none Obituary Cause Of Death ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial) Riva Sound none Bulgaria Unknown Sell This Version

Recommendations

Reviews Show All 14 Reviews

Add Review

ilvinox

ilvinox

September 21, 2020
referencing Cause Of Death, CD, Album, RP, RO 9370-2, RO 9370 2
this RP version of cause of death is not official relase but i think a copy press...
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nightofthevampire

nightofthevampire

August 27, 2020
referencing Cause Of Death, LP, Album, RE, RM, RRCAR 8767-1

Mine sounds incredible. Nothing wrong with it in any way.
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rambleast

rambleast

April 24, 2019
referencing Cause Of Death, LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red, POSH443
I've had two copies of this and both have terrible crackle right at the start of both sides that catches at the same point as the record turns. Sorry for not knowing the technical name for this.

Must be a bad pressing overall. Sounds great otherwise, ironically.
Reply  See 2 replies Notify me 1 Helpful
MrMel

MrMel

March 1, 2019
referencing Cause Of Death, LP, Album, Ltd, RE, Blu, POSH443

Gorgeous center labels, the sound is great I've had this album on cassette,cd, and now vinyl and they all sounded great. The cover art looks great, but the back cover on the lp has pixelation issues, it's fine but not great u know? anyways if you've been w8ing for a copy of cause of death go ahead and scoop it up! listenable records has yet to let me down with any of their pressings! \m/
Reply Notify me 3 Helpful
Sonic_Reducer_99

Sonic_Reducer_99

November 16, 2018
referencing Cause Of Death, LP, Album, RE, RM, RRCAR 8767-1
Whoever cut this vinyl should be ashamed of themselves. it SUUUUCKS. but this album doesn't, the album itself is rad!
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metamorfis

metamorfis

August 11, 2018
referencing Cause Of Death, LP, Album, RE, RM, RRCAR 8767-1
Odd this has gone up so much in value. It's a terrible pressing.
Reply Notify me 1 Helpful
JiltedBarfly

JiltedBarfly

August 14, 2007
edited over 13 years ago
referencing Cause Of Death, CD, Album, RP, RO 9370-2, RO 9370 2

Cause Of Death was a huge musical advancement on Obituary's debut Slowly We Rot. Musically it was more sophisticated with cleverly paced songs shifting from heavy, doom crawls, to rapid thrash-outs. Obituary also attempted to create a cohesive album by overlaying atmospheric soundscapes over the end and start of songs.

However, the high point of the album is James Murphy's outstanding lead work. Murphy sets the tone on Infected, the album's opening track, which begins with an incredible solo. His playing throughout is riven with emotion, feeling and thought. It gives the album a depth missing from many other death metal LPs.

The production does date the record, with the bass sounding rather flat. However, that is the only criticism of a key record by one of the genre's key bands.
Reply  See 1 reply Notify me 9 Helpful