Death metal tribute group LEFT TO DIE have officially signed with Relapse Records and announced their debut full-length album, Initium Mortis, set for release on July 17th.
Formed by original Death members Rick Rozz and Terry Butler alongside Matt Harvey and Gus Rios, LEFT TO DIE was initially conceived as a live celebration of Death’s formative era. What began as performances of Leprosy and Spiritual Healing material quickly evolved into a global touring force — and now, a full studio album revisiting the earliest roots of Mantas and Death.
The band has also unveiled the album’s first single, “Archangel.”
Listen to “Archangel” + preorder the album here
Rather than attempting to recreate Death classics, Initium Mortis dives deep into obscure demo-era material from the years between 1983 and 1987. The album reimagines songs originally written during the Mantas and early Death period with modern production while preserving the raw spirit and evil atmosphere of the originals.
Matt Harvey explained that the project came together after extensive touring with Rozz and Butler performing classic Death material live:
“I look at Initium Mortis as a kind of alternate-universe version of the Scream Bloody Gore track list.”
Harvey also noted that Rick Rozz’s signature guitar style was deeply embedded in many of the early compositions chosen for the album, including tracks like “Slaughterhouse.”
Terry Butler emphasized the importance of giving these foundational songs the production quality they never originally had through underground tape trading:
“This is ground zero – where it all started: three 15-year-old kids creating Death Metal history.”
Rick Rozz added that longtime Death fans will finally get to hear many of these early songs “properly,” while Gus Rios described the experience as hearing “new Death songs” for the first time thanks to the upgraded analog-style production.
Featuring tracks such as “Archangel,” “Witch Of Hell,” and “Legion Of Doom,” Initium Mortis serves both as a tribute to Death’s earliest years and as a celebration of the enduring legacy of death metal’s underground beginnings.
Initium Mortis Track Listing
- Legion Of Doom
- Archangel
- Power Of Darkness
- Zombie
- Witch Of Hell
- Rise Of Satan
- Summoned To Die
- Mantas
- Slaughterhouse
- Death By Metal
The album will be available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats through Relapse Records.
LEFT TO DIE will also embark on European tour dates this August followed by a Latin American run in September, with additional shows expected to be announced soon.