Death

Death is one of the creators of Death-Metal, being one of the first groups of the genre (along with Possessed). Death revolves around his leader, Chuck Schuldiner, who will remain the only permanent member of the band, the line-up changing at each album. It all started in 1983, Florida. Chuck Schuldiner and Rick Rozz (guitarist) team up with drummer Kam Lee to form the Mantas (the name being chosen with reference to a member of Venom). They record various rehearsals, and draw from these recordings the band's very first demo: the cult Death By Metal that will be released in 1984. At the end of the same year, the Mantas separated because of the total lack of support (their music was far too violent for the time). Chuck reformed the Mantas as Death; and recorded the band's second demo: Reign of terror, always with small means. In 1985, after recording the Infernal Death demo, Chuck was the only one in the band, with the other members all leaving Florida. Chuck will go to San Francisco to try to find new musicians, he will release some demos with musicians found there (and in particular Eric Brecht of D.R.I). Going back to Florida, he will immediately go to Canada to play provisionally with a rising band of the time, Slaughter. He will play very little with them, having huge disputes with the Canadians. Back in California, he met drummer Chris Reifert (future Autopsy) and recorded the Mutilation demo, which allowed them to secure a contract with the label Combat Records. In May 1986, the two musicians entered the studio to record their first cult album: Scream Bloody Gore. Released in 1987, the album is adulated by critics and fans, who see it as one of the greatest death metal albums of all time. The album will traumatize the extreme scene of the time, being more aggressive and fast than anything that was previously done in death metal, and being above all the first real metal album with gore sounds (unlike Possessed sounding satanic). Chuck returned to Florida, separated from Chris Reifert. He surrounded himself with three members of Massacre, including Rick Rozz, allowing the band's first tour. In 1988, Death returned to the studio to record Leprosy , second album in line with the previous album (small anecdote, it was Chuck who recorded the bass on this album, Terry Butler being simply unable to play the parts far too technical). The album became a reference for many bands, some doing everything to imitate it (for example, Napalm Death recorded his album Harmony Corruption in the same studio, wanting to have the same sound). In 1990, Rick Rozz was fired from the band and replaced by James Murphy (future Obituary and Testament). The band returned to the studio and began working on a pivotal album in the band's career: Spiritual Healing . Texts and gore ambiance are abandoned, for intelligent texts and more sought after, less aggressive music. Unfortunately, all the musicians left the band after this album after differences with Chuck Schuldiner, especially because of a tour without Chuck... The following year Schuldiner hired new musicians, among the best of the time: Sean Reifert and Paul Masvidal (respectively drummer and guitarist of Cynic ) and Steve Di Giorgio (Sadus , and many others). The band entered the studio and recorded one of its best albums: Human , a technical killing, breaking with all the influences we could hear on previous albums. The band then began its first European tour. In 1993, Paul Masvidal and Sean Reifert returned to Cynic . Chuck hired even better musicians: Gene Hoglan (Strapping Young Lad and Dark Angel) and Andy LaRocque (King Diamond guitarist). Under this line-up, the band comes out Individual Thougts Patterns , a new killing that completely breaks with Human , offering a more melodic, and very technical music, where each musician gives himself to the fullest. We note the prowess of the rhythm section: Gene Hoglan and his very jazzy game, and the bass soli Fretless by Steve DiGiorgio. In 1995, another line-up change (only Gene Hoglan will remain) for what is considered Death's best album: Symbolic . The album is a real killing, Death comes to the limit of progressive, pushing further the technicality and melody, all completed by very deep lyrics. Again, Chuck will lose his musicians. Death will then be put in stand-by, the guitarist preferring to devote himself to his side-project Control Denied . He will still make a return in 1998 to release The Sound Of Perseverance, Death's last testimony. The album is very melodic and destructured, Chuck getting bored in death metal (he changes his voice to a black cry voice). Unfortunately, in late 1999, before the release of Control Denied's album, Chuck will discover that he has a brain tumor. He will hardly fight his illness for two years. The musician will die on December 13, 2001, bereaving the world of metal, leaving behind him an indelible mark through his albums and style to which he has greatly brought.