Cause of Death (album)

Cause of Death is the second album by American death metal band Obituary. It was released on September 19, 1990. Cause of Death is considered a classic album in the history of death metal. The artwork was done by artist Michael Whelan. 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 Death. Murphy did not contribute to the songwriting as the riffs he showed to the band would end up appearing on Disincarnate's Dreams of the Carrion Kind.

The cover art of this album was used in an H. P. Lovecraft collection, Lovecraft's Nightmare A. It was intended to be used as the cover artwork of Sepultura's album Beneath the Remains which released the year before Cause of Death. However, Roadrunner Records sent the original album cover of Beneath the Remains to Obituary. Monte Conner of Roadrunner forced Sepultura to use another Michael Whelan illustration for Beneath the Remains, Nightmare in Red. The second portion of the painting, Lovecraft's Nightmare B was used by Demolition Hammer for their 1992 album Epidemic of Violence. The incident with Sepultura led to Igor Cavalera becoming upset with Monte Conner, with Cavalera notably having a tattoo of the cover on his arm.

Obituary played Cause of Death in its entirety at the 2019 Decibel Metal & Beer Fest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Cause of Death contains a cover of Celtic Frost's "Circle of the Tyrants". Celtic Frost frontman Tom G. Warrior has since endorsed the cover.

Touring
Obituary went on tour in the United States to support Cause of Death in November 1990 together with label mates Sepultura as headliner and Sadus, starting in Florida. They continued their tour activities in Europe in mid-1991.

Obituary

 * John Tardy – vocals
 * James Murphy – lead guitar
 * Trevor Peres – rhythm guitar
 * Frank Watkins – bass
 * Donald Tardy – drums

Technical personnel

 * Obituary – production
 * Scott Burns – production, engineering, mixing
 * Jeff Daniel – 1997 reissue production
 * George Marino – 1997 remastering
 * Ponkiesbergh – 1997 design
 * Kent Smith – sound effects
 * Michael R. Whelan – cover, illustration
 * Rob Mayworth – band logo design
 * Carole Segal – back cover photo
 * Shaun Clark – 1997 photo
 * Tim Hubbard – 1997 photo
 * Phil Alexander – 1997 liner notes