Death was an American death metal band formed in Altamonte Springs, Florida in 1984 by guitarist and vocalist Chuck Schuldiner. Death is considered to be among the most influential bands in heavy metal and a pioneering force in the extreme metal subgenre of death metal. The band's debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, has been widely regarded as one of the first death metal records, alongside the first records from Possessed and Necrophagia.
Charles Michael Schuldiner was an American vocalist and guitarist. He founded the death metal band Death in 1983, in which he was the band's lead vocalist, guitarist and only consistent member until his death in 2001. His obituary in the January 5, 2002, issue of UK's Kerrang! magazine described him as "one of the most significant figures in the history of metal." Schuldiner was ranked No. 10 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists in 2009 and No. 20 in March 2004 Guitar World's "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists". In 1987, Schuldiner founded the publishing company Mutilation Music, affiliated with performance rights organization BMI. Schuldiner died in 2001 of a brain tumor.
Control Denied was a progressive metal band formed by death metal musician and Death founder Chuck Schuldiner.
Scream Bloody Gore is the first full-length studio album by American death metal band Death, released on May 25, 1987, by Combat Records. It is considered by many to be "the first true death metal record". Chuck Schuldiner, the band’s founder and leader, played guitar, bass and sang, and he also composed and wrote all tracks on the album.
Leprosy is the second studio album by American death metal band Death, released on August 12, 1988, by Combat Records. The album is notable in its different tone and quality from the band's 1987 debut, it is the first example of Scott Burns' work heard on many of the death metal and grindcore albums of that era. The cover is featured in Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. It is the first album to feature drummer Bill Andrews and the only one to feature guitarist Rick Rozz.
Spiritual Healing is the third studio album by American death metal band Death, released on February 16, 1990, by Combat Records. It is the band's only album to feature both guitarist James Murphy and bassist Terry Butler and the last to feature drummer Bill Andrews.
Human is the fourth studio album by American death metal band Death, released on October 22, 1991, by Relativity Records. The album marked the beginning of a major stylistic change for Death, being more technically complex and progressive than the band's previous efforts. The lyrics are more introspective when compared to the gore-based lyrics of Scream Bloody Gore and Leprosy or the social commentary on Spiritual Healing. This new style would continue to evolve on all following Death albums. This is the only album to feature Cynic members Paul Masvidal on guitars and Sean Reinert on drums, both only 20 at that time, and the first to feature bassist Steve DiGiorgio.
Fate: The Best of Death is a compilation album by Death. It contains songs collected from their first four albums, Scream Bloody Gore (1987), Leprosy (1988), Spiritual Healing (1990) and Human (1991).
Individual Thought Patterns is the fifth studio album by American death metal band Death, released on June 22, 1993, by Relativity Records. It is the only album by the band to feature guitarist Andy LaRocque, the first to feature drummer Gene Hoglan and the second and last to feature bassist Steve DiGiorgio. Manager Eric Greif described the album as "an angry record, angry lyrically", attributing it to his conflict with Chuck Schuldiner at the time.
Symbolic is the sixth and penultimate studio album by American death metal band Death, released on March 21, 1995, by Roadrunner Records. The album was remastered and reissued on April 1, 2008, with five bonus tracks. It is the only album to feature Bobby Koelble and Kelly Conlon on guitar and bass, respectively, and the second and last album to feature drummer Gene Hoglan. The album has received unanimous critical acclaim.
The Sound of Perseverance is the seventh and final studio album by American death metal band Death, released on August 31, 1998, by Nuclear Blast. This is the only album to feature guitarist Shannon Hamm, drummer Richard Christy, and bassist Scott Clendenin.
Live in Eindhoven is the second live album by American band Death. It was recorded in Eindhoven, Netherlands at Dynamo Open Air in May 1998 and released on October 30, 2001, through Nuclear Blast. The album was also released in DVD format. The performance of "Spirit Crusher" was released as a music video. It was their final release before Chuck Schuldiner succumbed to brain cancer.
Shannon Hamm is a death metal guitarist who played in Death from 1996 until their break-up in 2001. He then joined Chuck Schuldiner's second band Control Denied, which ended with the death of Schuldiner in 2001. Before Death, he was a locally well known guitarist in the Texas underground metal scene. He was particularly good friends with "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott of Pantera and Damageplan. According to Abbott, Hamm "out shredded" Darrell in Pantera's glam metal days while Hamm was in a band named Metalstorm.
Live in L.A. is a live album released by Death. It was recorded on December 5, 1998, in Los Angeles at the Whisky a Go Go and released on October 16, 2001, through Nuclear Blast. The album was also released in DVD format. The album was not remastered for sound and captured the original sound from the live performance.
Scott Clendenin was an American musician most notable for his time spent in the bands Death and Control Denied, both of which were formed by Chuck Schuldiner. Following Schuldiner's passing, Death disbanded, which left the members to go about their own paths, with Clendenin being the only member to retire for the time being. In 2012, he came out of retirement to play for Death to All, former members of Death paying tribute to Schuldiner, as well as members of Cynic, Intronaut, Abysmal Dawn, and Exhumed. Clendenin died on March 24, 2015, with former bandmates and Death's manager Eric Greif expressing their shock and sympathy.
Mutilation is a demo album by American death metal band Death, released in 1986. The following year, the band would release their full-length debut album, Scream Bloody Gore on Combat Records. American heavy metal magazine Metal Maniacs noted that the demo was "the most polished of the early Death recordings" and that "the underground and Combat Records were in agreement about Mutilation".
Vivus! is a live album released by American death metal band Death through Relapse Records. It contains two previously released live albums: Live in L.A. and Live in Eindhoven. Both shows contained on Vivus! were recorded in 1998. Disc one features the band at Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles, while disc two is a recording of the band on the festival stage at Dynamo Open Air. The band's manager, Eric Greif, has stated that the inspiration for the set and its title was the Kiss album Alive!.
Mahyar Mohyeddin a.k.a. Mahyar Dean is a musician, guitarist, guitar instructor, author, and founding member of the Iranian/ American heavy metal act Angband, the first such band to be signed to a label.
The discography of Death consists of seven studio albums and four live albums. Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983. The band's founder, Chuck Schuldiner, is considered "a pioneering force in death metal". The band ceased to exist after Schuldiner died of brain cancer in 2001, though it remains an enduring death metal legacy.
