Together As One: A Tribute To Death – A Ripping Good Time in Death Metal Glory
Released back in 2003, Together As One: A Tribute To Death is one of those albums that feels like a love letter to the godfathers of death metal. Hailing from Spain and put out by Mondongo Canibale Records, this compilation pulls together various artists paying homage to Chuck Schuldiner’s legendary band, Death. If you’re into blistering riffs, guttural growls, and headbanging chaos, this record has got your name written all over it.
The album spans some of Death's most iconic tracks, reimagined with enough grit and fury to keep old-school fans happy while adding fresh twists for newcomers. Tracks like "Torn To Pieces" and "Crystal Mountain" stand out—not just because they’re killer songs but also because these renditions bring something raw and unfiltered to the table.
Let’s talk about “Torn To Pieces” first. This track hits hard right outta the gate, with razor-sharp guitar work and drumming so relentless it’ll make your neck sore after two listens. Whoever took on vocals here did an impressive job capturing the aggression without sounding like a carbon copy of the original. It’s heavy as hell, yet there’s this weird sense of melody lurking beneath the surface—it sticks with you long after the final note fades.
Then there’s “Crystal Mountain,” which might be my personal fave off the album. The tribute version amps up the intensity even more than the original, if that’s possible. The solo section? Absolutely face-melting. You can tell the musicians poured their hearts into nailing every detail while still making it their own. There’s this moment where everything drops out except for the bassline—it gives me chills every damn time. Pure magic.
Credit where it’s due: mastering wizards Kike and Samuel deserve props for keeping the production tight without losing the raw edge that makes death metal what it is. And shoutout to Mondongo Canibale for the liner notes—they add a nice touch of context for folks who wanna dig deeper into the history behind the project.
What really struck me about Together As One isn’t just how well it honors Death’s legacy; it’s how unpredictable it feels at times. Like, yeah, we know these songs inside-out already, but hearing them through someone else’s lens adds layers we didn’t know were missing. Plus, coming from Spain—a country not exactly known for its death metal scene—makes this release feel kinda rebellious. Who woulda thought?
So yeah, whether you’re a die-hard Death fan or just dipping your toes into the genre, this album’s worth a spin. Honestly, listening to it feels like hanging out with old friends who show up wearing slightly different outfits—they’re familiar, sure, but they’ve still got surprises up their sleeves.
Random thought to leave ya with: I bet Chuck himself would’ve gotten a kick outta this whole thing. Dude probably would’ve been like, “Hell yeah, let’s crank it louder!” And honestly? Same.
