Death To All Is Commemorating Death Metal Classics With a Special Dallas Show

Few bands have shaped the sound and spirit of death metal like Death. Founded in 1984 by Chuck Schuldiner in Altamonte Springs, Florida, the band helped define the genre’s early identity and became a cornerstone of the Florida metal scene. Schuldiner’s evolving musical vision and technical prowess earned Death international acclaim throughout the late ’80s and ’90s, until the band’s dissolution following his passing in 2001.

Carrying that legacy forward is Death To All, a touring collective of three former Death members and collaborators. Featuring Max Phelps (vocals/guitar), Gene Hoglan (drums), Steve Di Giorgio (bass) and Bobby Koelble (guitar), the group performs Death’s catalog with both reverence and vitality. Ahead of their Dallas show on Nov. 21 at The Echo Lounge, we spoke with Hoglan about the band’s origins, its emotional resonance with fans and what makes this tour a celebration of both memory and musicianship.

Hoglan has had an incredible heavy metal career, and it’s still going strong. He is presently a member of Dark Angel, Dethklok, Pitch Black Forecast and Tenet. We asked Hoglan how Death To All came together and inquired about the band’s shared love of Death’s music to keep it alive. Is it even fair to call them a “tribute band”?

“We’re essentially the lineup minus Chuck Schuldiner,” Hoglan says. “If Chuck were here, this would just be Death. So ‘tribute band’ doesn’t quite fit. Death To All started in 2011 with the re-release of Individual Thought Patterns, my first album with Death. I was doing a drum clinic tour and focused on that record. After one clinic, a couple of guys approached me with the idea of getting the band back together to tour. In 2012, we did a limited six-show run across the U.S. with seven guys from various Death eras. It was a celebration of Chuck’s legacy and the music.”

Death’s music is highly regarded by the heavy metal community, but artists across various genres also respect its originality. Death was one of about 30 bands Jack White listed as a source of inspiration in his acceptance speech for The White Stripes’ induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 8, 2025.

Death’s appeal also transcends age ranges, and many people have expressed gratitude to Hoglan for taking Death To All out on the road and letting people see the show. Hoglan explains, “Some fans have seen Death live before, others hadn’t and many were too young to have ever seen us. We’d see grizzled metalheads in tears at shows. The emotional connection is real. People tell us how magical the nights are. We take it seriously – we’re tight, energetic and we have fun. That joy radiates to the crowd.”

Indeed, the musicianship of Death To All is outstanding. Hoglan’s drumming is especially striking, and the instrumentation goes beyond what people expect from death metal. “We aim for a melodic, musical experience,” Hoglan agrees. “Our tourmates – Gorguts and Phobophilic – are also on the melodic and technical side. It’s not just brutal and gory. It’s a night of powerful, well-crafted metal.”

Creating a night of special live music involves being present with what’s expressed in the moment. We wondered how Death To All balances honoring Chuck Schuldiner’s legacy with bringing their own energy each night. “A few years ago, I spoke with Chuck’s nephew, Chris. I said we love honoring Chuck’s legacy, and he told me, ‘This is your legacy too.’ That meant a lot. Steve Di Giorgio is playful on stage, always messing with Max Phelps, our vocalist. We’ve all had long careers and bring that experience to the show,” Hoglan says.

It’s worth noting that Death’s musical catalog is expansive, and Death To All makes it a point to play songs from every album, not just the ones on which they each specifically appear.  That being said, they are focusing on specific albums for this tour. “This is the Symbolic Healing tour – 30th anniversary of Symbolic, so we’re playing it in full,” states Hoglan. “We’re also featuring a lot from Spiritual Healing. Last year, we did two-night shows: one night was Scream Bloody Gore and early brutal material, the next was Sound of Perseverance and the melodic era. This year, we’re packing more shows into less time, so we’re focusing on Symbolic and Spiritual Healing in one night.”

Hoglan’s humble, friendly demeanor shines as he adds, “Don’t miss it. You’ll regret getting that ‘Dude, where were you?’ call the next day. It’s for the fans, whether they’re reliving old memories or discovering Death for the first time. We’re excited to play Dallas. I was born there, so it’s a bit of a homecoming. Texas shows are always special. Come on out.”

Death To All with Gorguts and Phobophilic will perform on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. at The Echo Lounge & Music Hall, 1323 N. Stemmons Fwy. Tickets are available starting at $49.15 on Ticketmaster.com.