Back from the Dead

Before Death made their first proper album, they produced several demo tapes that helped them get noticed in the metal underground. Historically significant for being the first Death demo to feature Eric Brecht (formerly of D.R.I) and Erik Meade in the lineup, as well as the first to be recorded after Chuck Schuldiner moved to the Bay Area, 1985's Back from the Dead is yet another step forward in extremity for the fledgling band.

For a rough demo, the sound is quite decent with every instrument being audible despite the muddy recording quality. Particularly appreciated is the clear kick drum, which reveals how incredibly fast Eric's blast beats are. He uses them frequently throughout each song, pushing the tempo into grindcore territory. Bassist Erik Meade has a big challenge in keeping up but manages to hold down the rhythm respectably well. Meanwhile, with Kam Lee out of the band, Chuck fully handles vocals for the first time. He is able to go from low growls to high shrieks, such as in the chorus of 'Skill to Kill', with ease, showing the progression in his harsh vocal technique.

The demo opens with the theme from the TV series 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents', which is a nice touch that sets the tone for the songs to follow. The very first riff to greet the listener on the title track 'Back from the Dead' would later be used as the opening riff of 'Living Monstrosity'. 'Baptized in Blood' has some wild tempo switches during the chorus, creating a rush of adrenaline. 'Beyond the Unholy Grave' and 'Legion of Doom' first appeared on the Death by Metal demo, and here they are even more intense thanks to the use of blast beats and Chuck being just as adept at screaming as Kam Lee. Also on here is an early version of 'Mutilation', with Chuck screaming the song title a lot - basic, but it works.

At just over 20 minutes in length, this demo EP covers an impressive amount of ground and fully captures where the band was at this time. It is interesting to wonder just how different Death's debut album would have turned out had Chuck retained this lineup. This is the band at their absolute fastest, and should not be overlooked by anyone with an interest in the early years of death metal and grindcore.