Rick Rozz Talks Left To Die, Early DEATH Demos, Chuck Schuldiner Memories, And The New Album Initium Mortis
Death Metal history is alive and well in 2026, and legendary guitarist Rick Rozz is right in the middle of it.
During a recent appearance on The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio, the original DEATH and MASSACRE guitarist opened up about Left To Die’s upcoming release Initium Mortis , the resurrection of early Mantas and DEATH demo material, working alongside Terry Butler, Matt Harvey, and Gus Rios, and the legacy of Chuck Schuldiner that still echoes through the underground Metal scene decades later.
For longtime fans of Scream Bloody Gore , Leprosy , and the earliest days of Florida Death Metal, this conversation was pure gold.
Left To Die Revives The Earliest DEATH And Mantas Material
Unlike a standard tribute act, Left To Die digs directly into the roots of Death Metal itself. The band features original DEATH alumni Rick Rozz and Terry Butler alongside Matt Harvey of EXHUMED / GRUESOME and Gus Rios of GRUESOME.
Their upcoming album Initium Mortis , arriving July 17, 2026 via Relapse Records, focuses heavily on the obscure 1983 and 1984 Mantas and DEATH demo era material that many fans only experienced through generations of worn-out cassette tape trading.
According to Rozz, much of the credit for reconstructing those songs belongs to Matt Harvey.
“Matt relearned all the songs from all the old demos. He literally went down the rabbit hole and pulled all those old tunes together.”
Rozz repeatedly praised Harvey throughout the interview, emphasizing how much work went into preserving the authenticity of the original material while making it powerful enough for modern listeners.
“The songs are probably 90% like they were back then. It’s basically a modern sounding demo.”
That approach is exactly why the newly released single “Archangel” feels so unique. The song carries all the raw aggression and primitive chaos of early DEATH recordings while benefiting from modern production clarity.
“Archangel” Captures The Spirit Of Early Death Metal
When asked about the newly released version of “Archangel,” Rozz explained that the mission was never to modernize the songs beyond recognition.
Instead, the goal was preservation.
“Those old Mantas and DEATH demos were recorded on a jam box outside the garage with a towel over it.”
Fans familiar with the earliest DEATH recordings will immediately recognize the influence of Slayer, Venom, and the primitive Thrash roots that helped shape Death Metal itself.
Rozz laughed while discussing how surprising it feels hearing those riffs fully realized decades later.
“I haven’t heard these songs in forever. There’s so much Slayer and Venom influence, it’s crazy.”
The end result sounds less like a nostalgia project and more like an alternate-universe DEATH album finally receiving the production it always deserved.
Rick Rozz Discusses His Classic Death Metal Guitar Tone
For guitar players and gear fanatics, the interview also delivered plenty of insight into Rick Rozz’s iconic tone.
Rozz broke down the exact amp settings and pedal combinations he has used for decades, explaining that his overall setup has remained surprisingly consistent throughout his career.
“Presence all the way up on 10. Treble around two o’clock. Mids scooped completely out. Bass all the way up and gain all the way up.”
He also discussed the impact of vintage BC Rich guitars equipped with onboard preamps, particularly during the From Beyond era with MASSACRE.
“That preamp gave it that extra sizzle.”
Despite experimenting with newer gear over the years, Rozz admitted he always ends up returning to his classic Boss Super OverDrive setup.
Old-school Death Metal players everywhere immediately nodded in approval.
Because some things simply do not need fixing.
Chuck Schuldiner Memories And Life On The Road
While many fans hoped for outrageous tour stories from the early DEATH days, Rozz kept things grounded and honest.
According to him, the reality was far less glamorous and far more human.
“There’s no crazy stories, man. It was just silly kid stuff.”
Instead of destruction and chaos, Rozz shared memories of jokes, hotel room antics, and the tight friendships formed during the earliest years of DEATH and MASSACRE.
One particularly hilarious memory involved Chuck Schuldiner climbing into a baby crib inside a hotel room while the band laughed hysterically.
“Why was there a baby crib in the hotel room with four dudes? I still have the picture.”
The interview revealed a side of the early DEATH era that often gets lost beneath the mythology: young musicians simply having fun while unknowingly creating an entirely new genre.
Left To Die Continues Touring Worldwide
Beyond the album release, Left To Die is also preparing for major international touring throughout 2026.
Rozz confirmed upcoming European festival appearances and South American tour dates scheduled for later this year.
“We’re going to Europe in July and South America in September.”
Demand for the new material already appears massive, with multiple vinyl editions reportedly selling out quickly through Relapse Records shortly after announcement.
For longtime fans of classic Florida Death Metal, the response proves there is still enormous hunger for the roots of the genre.
The Legacy Of DEATH Still Lives
Throughout the interview, Rozz consistently returned to one central idea: respect for Chuck Schuldiner and the original spirit of DEATH.
“It’s all out of respect for Chuck.”
That respect radiates throughout Initium Mortis . Rather than simply replaying old songs, Left To Die is preserving foundational Death Metal history for both longtime maniacs and newer generations discovering these riffs for the first time.
And judging by the reaction to “Archangel,” fans are absolutely ready for it.
Initium Mortis arrives July 17, 2026 via Relapse Records.
Stay tuned to Metal Devastation Radio for more exclusive interviews, underground Metal coverage, and pure sonic devastation.
STAY LOUD.
Buy the record here at this link :
https://www.relapse.com/pages/left-to-die-initium-mortis />
Full Show Track List:
Battle Of The Bands Top Six Winners:
1 - Trivan - Abyss Of Crawling Shadows - (5,135,523 votes)
2 - La Paille - Aeon Dissector - (2,961,562 votes)
3 - Another Demon - Drawn and Quartered feat. James Murphy (Testament, Death, Obituary) - (1,671,781 votes)
4 - NIKOLA'S CAGE - RASCAL - (477,724 votes)
5 - Heidbekka - Völva - (73,940 votes)
6 - Soul Of Sheol - Paradise Is Not For Us - (28,447 votes)
The Zach Moonshine Intro
7 - Ozzy Osbourne feat Type O Negative - Pictures Of Matchstick Man
8 - Dimmu Borgir - AS SEEN IN THE UNSEEN
9 - Violence System - Endmother
LEFT TO DIE - Interview featuring Archangel
10 - Death - Zombie Ritual/Pull The Plug
11 - Inhuman Condition - Executioner's Tax (Swing Of The Axe)/Whiplash
12 - Six Feet Under - Mister Blood and Guts/Deathklaat/This Suicide
13 - Tyrant - Between the Dirt and The Sky
14 - Nervosa - Ghost Notes
15 - Iron Wings - Snake eater
16 - FROLIC - CELESTIAL AVENTUS
17 - The Phoenix Within - Meat Bags
18 - Vessel of Light - Dead Flesh And Bone
19 - Primal - Infernal Nightmare
20 - VOIDMAKER - The Post Human Emergence
21 - Symphony of Destiny - The Riddle
22 - Algebra - Resuscitation (Live at RKC)
23 - Sweetland - Pariah
24 - INSCRIBED - Machinery of War
25 - Gravehuffer - Custom Of The Sea - (Live)
26 - Anderwelt - Transanimalism
27 - NetherDred - Spellbound
28 - Webb Of Deceit - Hellswithin (Feat. Dave Frost & Jason Aaron Wood)
29 - Burnt Witch - Bastard
30 - Gods & Punks - The Lighthouse
Full show streaming on Mixcloud:
Also check out the interview segment on YouTube, Spotify etc
Super massive shout out to the 331,317 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned in to the live broadcast Friday night!
https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29027/rick-rozz-talks-left-to-die-early-death-demos-chuck-schuldiner-memories-and-the-new-album-initium-mortis?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
