Rare Recordings From CHUCK SCHULDINER's Pre-DEATH Band MANTAS: More Details Revealed

May 10, 2012

The next chapter in Relapse's DEATH reissue campaign is an extremely historic and essential release. The label has painstakingly collected all of of death metal legend, pioneer and groundbreaker Chuck Schuldiner's pre-DEATH material from his first band MANTAS into a deluxe collection, entitled "Death By Metal". Compiling the group's first two demos and a rehearsal from 1984, "Death By Metal" is the brutally raw sound of an entire genre being born out of the basement of Chuck Schuldiner's Florida home close to three decades ago. Additionally, this marks the first time these recordings have ever been officially collected into one fully authorized compilation and legitimately available since their original release as the "Death By Metal" demo tape (1984)!

A trailer for this face-ripping collection is available for viewing below.

"Death By Metal" will be released on June 19 in North America , June 22 in Benelux and Germany, and June 25 in the rest of Europe. The collection will be released as a CD, limited-edition deluxe 2CD, LP, digital download and a limited collector's edition containing the deluxe 2CD, LP on an exclusive color, exclusive demo cover T-shirt, and a reproduction of the original "Death By Metal" demo cassette! Pre-order options, including a new line of exclusive MANTAS and DEATH merch plus additional release information can be found here.

"Death By Metal" follows the recent Relapse Records reissues of DEATH's "Vivus!", "Individual Though Patterns", "The Sound Of Perseverance" and "Human". Like those reissues, this collection will contain extensive liner notes, this time featuring renowned metal biographer Ian Christe and former MANTAS guitarist Rick Rozz in addition to never-before-seen photos of the band.

"Death By Metal" track listing:

Disc 1

"Death By Metal" Demo (First Version)

01. Legion Of Doom
02. Evil Dead
03. Mantas
04. Death By Metal
05. Power Of Darkness

"Death By Metal" Demo (Second Version)

06. Legion Of Doom
07. Power Of Darkness
08. Death By Metal
09. Evil Dead

Rehearsal Early 1984

10. Legion Of Doom
11. Mantas
12. Death By Metal
13. Evil Dead
14. Rise Of Satan

Disc 2 (Deluxe Edition Only)

"Emotional" Rehearsal Demo 1984

01. Legion Of Doom (Take 1)
02. Legion Of Doom (Take 2)
03. Legion Of Doom (Take 3)
04. Evil Dead (Take 1)
05. Evil Dead (Take 2)
06. Mantas (Take 1)
07. Mantas (Take 2)

Live at Knights Of Columbus Hall in Orlando, Florida September 1, 1984

08. Legion Of Doom
09. Zombie
10. Demon Flight
11. Death By Metal
12. Evil Dead
13. Power Of Darkness
14. Black Magic
15. Evil Chuck Solo
16. Beyond The Unholy Grave
17. Poison

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