Left to Die – Initium Mortis

There have been cover bands since the dawn of music. Now, I realize that Left to Die is a bit more than just a cover band. The band features Death alum Rick Rozz and Terry Butler, as well as Matt Harvey, who also basically has another Death cover band in Gruesome.

For years now, they’ve toured the earth keeping the memory of Death Metal legend Chuck Schuldiner alive (as if anyone could forget those classic albums). There is another Death “cover band” with former Death members in Death to All, but as far as I know, they have yet to put out an album. Probably for the best, honestly. But here I am reviewing the debut from Left to Die, and trying to decide how I feel about it.

I’m impressed with the production; straight out of the box, the album sounds good. The bass is perfectly in the mix, and it all sounds lush and warm. And some of these songs/riffs are ones Chuck had apparently written back in 1984 and never got to use, so it’s only fitting that this is going to at least sound like early Mantas/Death, which it does. A lot.

That’s not completely a bad thing, as there are some pretty killer riffs going on, but my question is: do we need another Death? Personally, I see it kind of like this whole resurrection through hologram craze. There comes a point where homage becomes parody, and Left to Die is straddling that line pretty damn close.

Initium Mortis is the title, and musically it sticks to the Scream Bloody Gore and Leprosy blueprint. Also, not a bad thing, but I’m wondering if this will be a one-off release or the start of something else? How much can you farm the Death ‘sound’?

Let’s see what we have here… “Legion of Doom” is the first track and of course it’s a banger, Matt Harvey sounds exactly like Chuck, his understandable rasp lends itself to following the lyrics. It’s got soaring leads courtesy of Rick Rozz, Terry Butler’s bass rattles the walls with unrelenting force; it’s all very nostalgic and sticks to the Death formula to the point where it’s almost like reciting scripture.

“Archangel” sounds so much like “The Final Command” from Slayer’s eponymous Show no Mercy, but it comes across as lackluster and uninspired.

Meanwhile, “Power of Darkness” sounds like Venom, but again it’s a bit dull. If Left to Die can get out of Chuck’s shadow they could make a solid banger of an album. I know this is a debut, but these guys are veterans at this point. Just saying…

“Zombie” is a pointless instrumental that once again sounds like Slayer. It’s not a horrible track, but goddammit; it should be better than it is. I’m starting to get the impression that these songs and riffs from the early days were left out for a reason at the time of the recording process. I remember hearing Scream Bloody Gore for the first time and it knocked me out with how good it was/is. Maybe if Left to Die do another album they’ll try and make it their own. Time will tell.

“Witch of Hell” could’ve been on Massacre’s From Beyond, sounding like “Corpsegrinder”, I mean Rick Rozz is a precise motherfucker so his writing is all over this song. I have to say it’s one of the more ‘original’ tracks on Initium Mortis, even though it sounds like Massacre… it is what it is though. Lots of dive-bomb solos are peppered throughout which makes me think of Massacre even more because literally every solo on From Beyond has dive-bomb solos.

“Rise of Satan” and Summoned to Die” could have been on Leprosy, but this is a by the numbers version of Death, so it isn’t as good as it should be. Which is sadly the case with Initium Mortis. Man, I wanted to love this album… but it’s really hard to. This is a meeting that could have been an email.

“Mantas” is the name Death had before they became Death. That should tell you all you need to know about the song, it’s just ‘meh’ unfortunately.

Last two tracks, “Slaughterhouse” and “Death by Metal” close out the album with a little bit of Possessed showing up in “Death by Metal”. Honestly I’m glad it’s over.

My problem with Left to Die and Initium Mortis is that it’s the “we have Death at home” version and it makes me wonder why Death to All hasn’t made an album yet. I mean, two touring acts doing their version of Death and only one makes an album of ‘original’ material? C’mon man, be serious now.

At the end of the day I can only recommend this for… well I’m not quite sure. I guess if you like Death and want to hear from the people who played on those seminal albums, then yeah it’s going to be your jam. But if you’re looking for an album that takes what Chuck did with Death and advances on it; this is not the album for you. Or maybe it is, I don’t fucking know, I guess if you like what you’ve heard then you’ll eat it up. Enjoy your day.