Death metal purists were treated to a massive holiday gift this week as the Riff Crew YouTube channel unveiled a pristine, professionally filmed concert video of Left To Die in action. The footage captures the supergroup’s entire performance from March 9, 2025, at the Melbourne Dethfest, held at the iconic Corner Hotel in Melbourne, Australia.
Left To Die is far more than a standard tribute act; it is a direct line to the origins of the genre. The band features two alumni from the classic era of the pioneering band Death: guitarist Frederick “Rick Rozz” DeLillo and bassist Terry Butler, both of whom are also known for their work with Massacre (with Butler currently serving as the bassist for Obituary). Rounding out the lineup and handling the complex arrangements of late mastermind Chuck Schuldiner are Gruesome founders Matt Harvey (also of Exhumed) on guitar and vocals, and Gus Rios (formerly of Malevolent Creation) on drums.
The newly released video showcases the quartet tearing through a setlist dedicated almost exclusively to Death‘s first two landmark albums, Scream Bloody Gore (1987) and Leprosy (1988). The performance serves as a high-octane history lesson in Florida death metal, delivering raw, primitive aggression with modern precision.
Melbourne Dethfest Setlist:
- “Intro“
- “Leprosy“
- “Open Casket“
- “Infernal Death“
- “Sacrificial“
- “Torn To Pieces“
- “Regurgitated Guts“
- “Left To Die“
- “Scream Bloody Gore“
- “Zombie Ritual“
- “Pull The Plug“
- “Evil Dead“
While the band sounds air-tight in the footage, Rick Rozz has admitted that stepping back into this material wasn’t effortless. In a 2023 interview with Blabbermouth, the guitarist revealed the anxiety he felt relearning songs he hadn’t performed since his dismissal from Death in 1989.
“It was quite terrifying at first, especially when I saw we were doing a full tour,” Rozz confessed. “I had my taste of anxiety before the East Coast run that we did. I was like, ‘Holy cr*p. I have to learn all of these songs and some Scream Bloody Gore songs, and we’re playing in front of people. I was like, ‘Ugh.’ Other than that, it’s cool. It’s chilled out a little bit.”
However, the project has offered Rozz more than just musical challenges; it has been a personal reunion.
“It’s been a blessing. I’ve made some new friends and rekindled my friendship with Terry. We room together. It’s pretty cool,” Rozz said. He also praised his younger bandmates: “Then, getting to know Gus and Matt. They’re so good at what they do. They’re so passionate about the music and the songs. It’s a really good feeling. It’s an honor.”
The project highlights the specific magic found in Death‘s earliest output—a sound defined by Schuldiner‘s raw ambition before the band pivoted toward a more progressive direction in the 90s. According to Rozz, the fan reaction to these specific eras has been overwhelming.
“Definitely, especially these first two Death records… There seems to be something with these first two records. It’s an honor. It’s flattering. It’s a blessing. All of it all wrapped up into one,” Rozz noted. “Those guys could have said, ‘Nah. I’m good. We have enough on our plate.’ They didn’t have to learn all these songs and do a tribute to these records, but they did. It really is cool.”
He also emphasized the lack of ego within the group as a key to their success.
“When you’re doing something with cool people — nobody is on their high horse or thinks they’re owed something from someone else, that’s the coolest thing about it. Everyone is doing their thing and gets along. There’s no baloney.”
Left To Die has been touring consistently since their inaugural U.S. run in July 2022, including a European trek in early 2023. Late last year, during a West Coast tour, they were even joined onstage in Oakland by Chris Reifert (of Autopsy fame), the original drummer on Scream Bloody Gore, for renditions of “Infernal Death” and “Evil Dead,” further cementing the project’s authenticity.
