Death by Metal

Death by brain cancer after an extraordinary career

"Death by Metal" (2016) is a documentary on Chuck Schuldiner and his musical journey that started as a pre-teen and ended with his passing in 2001 at the age of 34 from a brain tumor. From 1987-1998 he released seven Death albums with a revolving door of bandmates. His career ended with an album consisting of the final members of Death and an actual singer (rather than a death growler). The new band was Control Denied. Demos were written and four songs recorded without vocals for the follow-up opus when Chuck passed from this plane (you can hear these songs on Youtube, just punch-in Control Denied WHEN MAN AND MACHINE COLLIDE).

The many people interviewed include musicians Chris Reifert, Rock Rozz DeLillo, Steve DiGiorgio, Gene Hoglan, Terry Butler, Sean Reinert, Richard Christy and Shannon Hamm, manager Eric Greif, journalist Jeff Wagner and producer Jim Morris, as well as Chuck’s sister and mother. Some key musicians are noted but not interviewed, like guitarist James Murphy.

It’s odd that the singer for Control Denied, Tim Aymar, isn’t even mentioned, possibly due to a production decision. I guess you can’t have everything, particularly with a limited runtime.

Naturally the focus is on Chuck and I like the chronological telling of his journey from album to album with snippets of corresponding songs throughout.

Like most thinkers, writers, artists & creative types, Chuck was reserved, driven by his art, preferred to create at home and avoided social drama, which would explain a couple European tours cancelled at the midpoint. The movie elaborates on these things. While all the commenters are respectful of Chuck, it’s not all gushing praise. He had his curious idiosyncrasies.

In my opinion, Chuck’s best piece is 1995’s SYMBOLIC by Death, a stunning masterpiece.

The film runs 1 hour, 47 minutes.

GRADE: A