THE GODFATHER OF DEATH METAL
Photo by Barbara Stiller
Chuck Schuldiner, often hailed as the "Godfather of Death Metal", was a talented musician whose impact on the genre is by far incalculable.
Born on May 13, 1967, in Long Island, NY, then moving with his family to Florida, Schuldiner's journey into music began at a young age, and by the time he was 16, he had formed the band Mantas that would come to be known as Death shortly after. His approach to play metal feels as the combination of the intensity of bands like Venom and Slayer with a unique and powerful technique, carving out a new path in the heavy metal landscape.
Death was not just a band with a provocative name but a musical revolution that pushed the boundaries of metal music. From their raw beginnings to more sophisticated and technically complex songwriting, Death's evolution mirrored Schuldiner's growth as a musician and songwriter. His lyrics are profound as they dive into the complexities of human emotions and the philosophical questions and answers of existence.
Sadly, Chuck Schuldiner's life was prematurely ended due to a rare and aggressive brain tumor known as Pontine Glioma. Despite the bleak outlook typically associated with such diagnoses, Schuldiner had surgery in New York City in January 2000. The operation successfully excised a portion of the tumor, enabling him to resume his work with Control Denied, the band he had established as a shift from Death's style to progressive power metal. Unfortunately, Chuck succumbed to the illness on December 13, 2001, leaving this world at the age of 34. His passing still represents a big loss to the metal music community.
