Review Summary: What's old is new again
Initium Mortis is a unique proposition that is simultaneously something old and something new. When the project was announced, I had a time trying to understand what exactly this release is. So let's clarify - Left To Die is a band of 2 ex-Death members Rick Rozz (early demos +
Leprosy) and Terry Butler (
Spiritual Healing), along with Gus Rios (ex-Malevolent Creation, Gruesome) and helmed by Exhumed frontman Matt Harvey. It serves to bring old Death demo tracks to a new audience by re-recording them from the ground up with modern production while keeping the spirit of Chuck Schuldiner's vision at the time in tact.
So this is old in that we have a collection of tracks written between '84-'86, and new in the sense these tracks were never released outside of demos, and everything here has been recorded, mastered and released in 2026 by a 'new band'.
You can ask the question
'why' this release may exist, but I don't think there is enough cash in early Death demos for this to be a cash grab, and there's clearly a genuine reverence for the source material evident. But of course the main question is: is it any good?
Unsurprising, it's a yes. Any fan of Death's early work should enjoy these tracks. Opening track
'Legions Of Doom' will feel instantly familiar, and kicks off a run of tracks punctuated by killer rhythm sections, head banging riffs and tasty solos. Matt Harvey truly delivers an uncanny Chuck impression on vocals to the point where he is borderline discernible, which is a feat considering how iconic and unique Chuck was as a vocalist. This feels like it could have been a cannon Death album from alternative timeline.
Among the tracklist we get high energy punk-ish cuts, solos that feel like they are flying off the rails, thrash-y numbers clearly inspired by Venom and early Slayer, ventures into more occult themes (which Chuck would then steer away from into more horror and gore) and some wild eye-widening screams. The production is also worth a shout-out and really captures a sound that'd make these fit easily on
Scream Bloody Gore, with plenty of boom and depth to every instrument. It truly captures the youthfulness and energy of the early Death Metal scene (despite being put out by guys in their 50s)
With most of these tracks being demo cuts, they clock in about 2-3 minutes each with the album having an overall runtime just shy of 30 minutes. This means we get a very punchy, to-the-point set of tracks that are a lot of fun, but also puts a ceiling on just how good things can get as ideas never evolve or get expanded on. This was years before Chuck started to really get progressive and dynamic with his song-writing, and these are songs that got left on the cutting room floor after all.
Death were one of the all-time best metal bands to ever exist with an incredible discography that stands against any other band in the genre. A murderer's row of classic albums and an influence that changed what metal was. So while Left To Die's
Initium Mortis is the least good album Death never put out, it's still a lot of fun and a worthy listen for fans of the band. I for one will take new Death material even if it isn't new or by Death .....if that makes any sense???
SCORE: ★★★★
HIGHLIGHTS: Legions Of Doom, Arcangel, Power Of Darkness, Witch Of Hell, Rise Of Satan, Mantas, Death By Metal
FFO: Death, Possessed, Slayer
