Legendary Orlando/Tampa death metal band Death memorialized on the cover of Decibel

Wow. When I was a teenage metalhead oh-so-many years ago, I would never – ever – guess that all these years later, I’d see one of my favorite “underground” bands treated to such a loving and awesome memorial. The fact that Death is on the February 2011 cover of Decibel, admittedly, has something to do with the fact that Chuck Schuldiner left this world in such an early and decidedly un-glamorous way, but it’s undeniable that Schuldiner’s unparalleled guitar abilities and the death metal revolution that Death led out of Orlando and Tampa meant that the man would have left a huge mark on heavy metal – and the Florida music scene – regardless of whether or not he was still with us. Although I’ve yet to read it, this 12-page oral history is exactly the right way to tell the story of Schuldiner and Death (and Control Denied, I hope).

[Thanks to commenter Chris Steele who reminded me that, d'oh, Death was actually from Orlando. As a kid growing up outside of Florida, I just always associated the band with the Tampa death metal scene and now, here I am, not even recognizing that this iconic band hailed from right here in my own city. Humble mea culpas all around; I feel like a dumbass. I've updated the post accordingly.]

Of course, this cover story is being run in tandem with the forthcoming (Feb. 15) deluxe, three-disc reissue of Death’s final album, 1998′s The Sound of Perseverance, which is the first in Relapse’s series of Death remaster/reissues coming out this year. I’ve posted the track listing below:

Disc 1

1. Scavenger Of Human Sorrow
2. Bite The Pain
3. Spirit Crusher
4. Story To Tell
5. Flesh And The Power It Holds
6. Voice Of The Soul
7. To Forgive Is To Suffer
8. A Moment Of Clarity
9. Painkiller

Disc 2

1. Spirit Crusher – 1998 Demos (No Bass)
2. Flesh And The Power It Holds – 1998 Demos (No Bass)
3. Voice Of The Soul – 1998 Demos (No Bass)
4. Bite The Pain – 1998 Demos
5. A Moment Of Clarity – 1998 Demos
6. Story To Tell – 1998 Demos
7. Scavenger Of Human Sorrow – 1998 Demos
8. Bite The Pain – 1997 Demos
9. Story To Tell – 1997 Demos
10. A Moment Of Clarity – 1997 Demos

Disc 3

1. Bite The Pain – 1996 Demos
2. Story To Tell – 1996 Demos
3. A Moment Of Clarity – 1996 Demos
4. Bite The Pain w/ Paul Payne On Vocals – 1996 Demos
5. A Moment Of Clarity w/ Paul Payne On Vocals – 1996 Demos
6. A Moment Of Clarity w/ Chuck Schuldiner On Vocals – 1996 Demos
7. Story To Tell w/ Chuck Schuldiner On Vocals – 1996 Demos
8. Bite The Pain w/ Shannon Hamm on Vocals – 1996 Demos
9. A Moment Of Clarity – 1996 Demos (Instrumental)
10. Bite The Pain – 1996 Demos (Instrumental)
11. Story To Tell – 1996 Demos (Instrumental)
12. Voice Of The Soul – 1996 Demos (Instrumental)
13. A Moment Of Clarity – 1996 Demos (Instrumental)

Tags: death, metal, Music News (Florida), Tampa