See Death's Stunning Performance of "Crystal Mountain" in 1998 | Revolver

See Death's Stunning Performance of "Crystal Mountain" in 1998

'The Sound of Perseverance' lineup made live debut count

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On Sunday, May 31st, 1998, Death played the main stage at the Dynamo Open Air festival in the Netherlands. The show marked the live debut of the group's latest lineup — vocalist-guitarist-bandleader Chuck Schuldiner, guitarist Shannon Hamm, bassist Scott Clendenin and drummer Richard Christy — which would soon immortalize itself with the August release of what would prove to be Death's swan song, The Sound of Perseverance.

The Floridian death-metal pioneers ushered in this new lineup with gusto. Taking the stage after Brooklyn's Life of Agony and right before the night's headliners, Pantera, the band tore through a devastating 11-song set, opening with Individual Thought Patterns' "The Philosopher" and closing with Leprosy's "Pull the Plug." But the highlight might have been their performance of the melodic masterpiece "Crystal Mountain," off 1995's watershed LP, Symbolic. Death took the classic cut to towering heights, with Schuldiner bellowing out its mystical lyrics while his cohorts joined him in conjuring the song's Egyptian motifs, chugging riffery and infectious melody. Watch above.