DIMMU BORGIR's SILENOZ Pays Tribute To Late DEATH Mastermind CHUCK SCHULDINER

December 13, 2005

On the fourth anniversary of the passing of DEATH mastermind Chuck Schuldiner, Norway's Imhotep asked several metal musicians to comment on Schuldiner's musical legacy and the influence DEATH has had on their music. Guitarist Silenoz (DIMMU BORGIR, INSIDIOUS DISEASE) had the following to say regarding Chuck's passing and his contributions to the metal world: "This day, I walked down the street with a friend of mine when I received a phone call on my cellphone. Can't remember who told me, but the voice said, 'Chuck just died...' I stopped, wordless, while my cellphone suddenly slipped down from my hand. It didn't fall down on the ground but slipped inside of my jacket sleeve. I still remember this day. It was weird and quite unreal, as I didn't even know the guy personally, it still made such a huge impact on me.

"His music has always been an inspiration, perhaps not directly on my playing, but more subconsciously, I'd say. My first band ever used to play many DEATH covers, and I remember I was proud when I finally learned the songs the right way, as I was so young back then.

"Sometimes by coincidence, or maybe not, I come up with riffs that I think sound too much like DEATH, which I know I can't use, for the obvious reason, so I change it around so I can use the idea either for DIMMU BORGIR as I have done in the past or now INSIDIOUS DISEASE, my other band, which is more death metal-oriented. I don't know what Chuck would've thought of our music today, but I heard from some label people that he told them he liked us back then when our 'Spiritual Black Dimensions' album came out.

"I used to have 'Leprosy' as my all-time DEATH favorite [album], but now, recently it's been a close tie between 'Scream Bloody Gore' and 'Symbolic'. Perhaps these two in particular show best the evolution of his musicianship, as 'Scream Bloody Gore' is so raw and straight-forward, whereas 'Symbolic' is more innovative, technical, diverse and modern-sounding, still keeping Chuck's distinct and unique self-taught style of playing. I still listen to his music."

Read more comments by members of BEHEMOTH, GOD DETHRONED and BELPHEGOR at this location.

Schuldiner passed away on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

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