Left to Die Initium Mortis CD (Jewel Case, 2026, Relapse Records)

Initium Mortis is the highly anticipated debut studio album from Left to Die, the death metal supergroup formed to celebrate and preserve the earliest and most influential era of Death. Led by Matt Harvey of Exhumed and Gruesome, Left to Die features original Death members Terry Butler of Obituary and Rick Rozz of Massacre, alongside Gruesome drummer Gus Rios.

Drawing directly from the primitive, raw and groundbreaking sound of Death's earliest recordings, Initium Mortis revisits the formative material from the band's legendary 1984 demo era, when Chuck Schuldiner, Rick Rozz and Kam Lee were laying the foundations for what would become death metal.

Tracks including “Arcangel”, “Witch of Hell” and “Legion of Doom” capture the ferocious energy, primitive riffing and unmistakable underground atmosphere of early Death, while being performed and recorded with modern production. For longtime Death fans and collectors, Initium Mortis provides an opportunity to hear this crucial early material with far greater clarity than the original demo recordings, many of which circulated through underground tape trading in extremely lo-fi form.

Matt Harvey explains that the goal was to give fans who had never encountered these early demo recordings the opportunity to experience them with quality production, while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original material. The songs represent ground zero for the Death sound: raw, aggressive and formative death metal created by young musicians who would go on to change extreme music forever.

Left to Die's live performances have already introduced this foundational Death material to a new generation of fans, with Harvey bringing a remarkably faithful vocal and guitar approach inspired by Chuck Schuldiner and Gus Rios delivering the material with precision and respect.

Featuring original Death members alongside musicians from Exhumed, Gruesome, Obituary and Massacre, Initium Mortis is an essential release for fans of classic Florida death metal, early death metal, old-school extreme metal and the formative years of Death.

Released by Relapse Records on CD in jewel case format, Initium Mortis is an essential addition to any serious death metal collection.

Recommended if you like: Death, Chuck Schuldiner, Obituary, Massacre, Gruesome, Exhumed, Immolation, Possessed and old-school death metal.

Artist: Left to Die
Title: Initium Mortis
Label:  Relapse Records
Catalogue Number: RR76402
UPC: 781676764020
Release Year: 2026
Duration: Album
Format: CD 
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
Condition: New & factory sealed

Tracklist:
1. Legion Of Doom
2. Archangel
3. Power of Darkness
4. Zombie
5. Witch of Hell
6. Rise of Satan
7. Summoned To Die
8. Mantas
9. Slaughterhouse
10. Death By Metal