Left to Die - Initium Mortis • GRIMM Gent

Left to Die – Initium Mortis

30/07/2026

In the past decade or so, countless bands have covered Chuck Schuldiner’s Death. With bands like Gruesome, Morfin, Horrendous, Skeletal Remains, and now Left to Die, the inspiration has seemingly waxed over time. However, after listening to the debut album “Initium Mortis” by the new supergroup band comprising original members of Death: Rick Rozz (Massacre, ex-Death), Terry Butler (Obituary, Inhuman Condition, ex-Death), Matt Harvey (Gruesome and Exhumed), and Gus Rios (Gruesome), the four-piece unleashes an excellent tribute to the father of death metal. But if you consider yourself a fan of old-school death metal, rest assured “Initium Mortis” is full of fast tempos, heavy riffing, and offers a true passion for raw 80’s metal.

Whereas the band Gruesome focused on early Death albums like “Leprosy”, “Spiritual Healing” and “Human“, Left to Die’s approach to tempos will remind you of early Death and Mantas, which was Chuck Schuldiner’s first band.

The tempos are really fast, but what really caught me is that the bass tone, guttural growls, and the aggressive riffing are consistently gripping. The ten tracks have been re-recorded; the opening track “Legion of Doom” presents gory growls similar to Chuck Schuldiner‘s; the mid-tempo is stuffed with powerful basslines by Terry Butler and pounding drums providing a range of fast tempos. The riffs are instantly catchy and will have you hooked on the storming charge of enthusiasm.

Ultimately, Left to Die offers an aggressive cavernous sound; the veterans recapture the evolution of Floridian death metal which began four and a half decades ago. Tracks like “Archangel” and “Power of Darkness” show clear influences of merciless thrash metal, but instead they keep things more stripped and less technical. The guitars sound heavy in the mix, with Rick Rozz and Terry Butler giving the album prominence; on the other hand, Gus Rios‘ drumming is brutal and organic.

The slow guitar intro in the track “Zombie” is shorter than the original song; the instrumental prowess sets a darker tone for this instrumental song. The guitars inject fury and mix unbridled aggression; there is absolutely no dispute about the level of intensity and chaotic energy that will make fans experience the classic sound that rebrands Chuck Schuldiner’s early material. “Witch of Hell” maintains solid aggression of 80s extreme metal. The riffs immediately stick in your mind, blazing solos, catchy melodies, and ballsy old-school brutality soaked in sick guttural growls. In my opinion, this might be the best presentation of the band Mantas. Despite Left to Die paying homage to Chuck Schuldiner, this album certainly revamps the early demos. The ten tracks, clocking in at thirty-three minutes, offer a profound insight into early demos of the band Mantas. “Rise of Satan” and “Summoned to Die” are both raw and crushingly heavy; the guitar tone is thunderous, with the drumming having a powerful effect, including the sharp melodies displayed throughout the song. The latter manifests the raw tendency; the thundering sound carries straightforward drumming explosions. The album’s zombie resurrection theme is inspired by Death’s classic debut “Scream Bloody Gore”, symbolizing a hand holding a chalice sprouting from a grave.

“Death by Metal” is another vicious track. In all its diversity and rhythmic sections, the rampant aggression summons the trademark of evil speed and thrash metal, brimming with morbid, fast, raw metal. This is a genuine approach to Mantas and Death; this is an intensely heavy record showcasing the craftsmanship of the veterans who pay respect to the old days.