Oh boy, are you guys ready for some nostalgia-filled, face-melting, and potentially soul-crushing news? 🤯 Because I’m about to drop a bombshell that will make all you metalheads out there simultaneously scream with joy and weep with despair: LEFT TO DIE, the band featuring classic DEATH members Terry Butler and Frederick “Rick Rozz” DeLillo, is releasing their debut full-length album, “Initium Mortis”, on July 17 via Relapse Records! 🎸👊
So, what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, let me tell you, this album is a love letter to the early days of DEATH, with the band performing most of the songs from the classic “Leprosy” album, along with cuts from DEATH’s debut LP, “Scream Bloody Gore”. And if that’s not enough, they’re also throwing in some newly recorded versions of songs from DEATH’s early catalog, including tracks from Chuck Schuldiner’s pre-DEATH band MANTAS.
But wait, there’s more! 🤔 The album’s third single, “Legion Of Doom”, is now available for streaming, and let me tell you, it’s a real treat. As Terry Butler himself puts it, “Legion Of Doom is heavy as hell. One of the best and earliest knuckle-dragging riffs out there.” And if you’re wondering what inspired this behemoth of a song, Butler explains that the main riff was actually brought back out of retirement for DEATH’s song “Spiritual Healing”.
The Birth of a New Era (or the Resurrection of an Old One?)
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Is this just a bunch of old guys trying to relive their glory days?” 🙄 And to that, I say… guilty as charged! 🤣 But seriously, LEFT TO DIE is not just a nostalgia act; they’re a band that’s passionate about the music and the legacy of DEATH. As Matt Harvey, one of the band’s founders, puts it, “We’re not gonna top ‘Leprosy’. I gleefully combed through the myriad DEATH/MANTAS demos and rehearsals looking for stuff that would make sense for a record, and we ended up going with tunes that we felt would make the most cohesive album.”
And let’s be real, folks, this album is a must-have for any DEATH fan. I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear newly recorded versions of classic tracks like “Archangel”, “Witch Of Hell”, and “Legion Of Doom”? 🤤 It’s like a dream come true (or a nightmare, depending on how you feel about the whole “old guys playing old songs” thing)!
A Look Back at the Legacy of DEATH
But before we get too caught up in the excitement of new music, let’s take a step back and appreciate the legacy of DEATH. Founded in 1984 by Chuck Schuldiner under the original name of MANTAS, DEATH was one of the pioneering bands of the death metal sound. And let’s not forget, they were part of the iconic Florida death metal scene, which also spawned bands like OBITUARY and MORBID ANGEL.
And as we look back on the history of DEATH, it’s hard not to feel a little sad. I mean, Chuck Schuldiner passed away in 2001, and it’s still hard to believe he’s gone. 😔 But his legacy lives on, not just through LEFT TO DIE, but through the countless bands that have been inspired by his music.
So, what’s the verdict? Is “Initium Mortis” a worthy tribute to the legacy of DEATH, or is it just a bunch of old guys trying to cash in on their past glories? 🤑 Well, I’ll let you decide that for yourself. But one thing’s for sure: this album is going to be a wild ride, full of face-melting riffs, pummeling drums, and enough nostalgia to make your head spin. So, buckle up, folks, and get ready to experience the birth of a new era (or the resurrection of an old one?)! 🤘🎸
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
