Death To All rolled into London’s O2 Academy Islington on the 18th June 2026 for a sweaty sold-out gig and delivered exactly what fans were hoping for: a crushing celebration of Death’s music, performed by musicians who helped create much of it in the first place….

CRYPTIC SHIFT

Opening up proceedings, Leeds-based tech-death metal outfit Cryptic Shift; who got the night off to a fantastic start, bringing their unique mix of technical death metal and progressive, spacey songwriting to a crowd that seemed increasingly won over with every song. 

The band’s musicianship was outstanding throughout. The guitars during Cryogenically Frozen shifted effortlessly between crushing riffs and melodic leads, while the rhythm section kept everything locked together through the constant tempo and mood changes.

The balance between technicality and atmosphere really worked well; the songs felt expansive and adventurous without losing any of their heaviness, particularly in Hyperspace Topography.

By the last minutes of the interestingly-titled Hexagonal Eyes (Diverity Trepaphymphasyzm,) it was clear that Cryptic Shift had made an impression on more than just their existing fans. They were the perfect choice to open for Death To All, sharing that same progressive spirit while bringing their own modern twist. They weren’t quite to my taste, but the sheer talent on display was undeniable.

DEATH TO ALL

For anyone unfamiliar with the band, Death To All is a touring project dedicated to the music of Chuck Schuldiner, the founder of Death and one of the most influential figures in the history of death metal. The line-up features former Death members Gene Hoglan on drums, Steve DiGiorgio on bass and Bobby Koelble on guitar, joined by vocalist and guitarist Max Phelps.

Rather than simply acting as a tribute band, Death To All serves as a way of keeping Schuldiner’s music alive on stage for both longtime fans and newer generations discovering it for the first time. The band are celebrating 35 years of Spiritual Healing and 30 years of Symbolic, both incredible records that are still highly regarded within the genre.

From the moment the band launched into Living Monstrosity, with the intro riff from Infernal Death, it was obvious we were in for something truly special. The sound was powerful but clear, allowing every intricate riff, bass run and drum fill to cut through the mix. One of the biggest challenges with Death’s music is reproducing its technical complexity in a live setting, but Death To All made it look almost effortless.

BRUTALITY & SOPHISTICATION

The set leaned heavily on Spiritual Healing and Symbolic, which was fitting given the tour’s Symbolic Healing theme. Tracks like Defensive Personalities, Altering the Future and Spiritual Healing sounded as sharp and aggressive as ever, with the band capturing both the brutality and the musical sophistication that made the original recordings so influential.

Gene ‘The Atomic Clock’ Hoglan was, unsurprisingly, a force of nature behind the kit. His performance combined sheer power with incredible precision, especially during the more complex sections. Steve DiGiorgio’s distinctive fretless bass work was another highlight, adding an extra layer that often gets buried in live metal mixes but came through brilliantly here.

The Symbolic material was particularly well received. The title track, Empty Words and Sacred Serenity all drew huge reactions from the crowd. DiGiorgio noted that some of that material had never been played live when Chuck was in the band, so it’s truly special to hear it performed so well here.

Max Phelps deserves a lot of credit for his performance throughout the night. Rather than trying to imitate Chuck Schuldiner note for note, he captured the spirit and intensity of the songs while still sounding like himself, which felt like the right approach for music that means so much to so many people.

THE HITS KEEP COMING

As the evening went on, the hits just kept coming. Lack of Comprehension, The Philosopher, Crystal Mountain and Spirit Crusher had the crowd roaring along, with mosh pits opening up whenever the heavier riffs kicked in. Crystal Mountain in particular felt like one of the night’s defining moments, with almost everyone in the venue locked into every riff and vocal line.

What stood out most was how alive these songs still feel. Death’s catalogue is now decades old, but none of the material sounded dated. If anything, the performances highlighted just how forward-thinking Schuldiner’s songwriting was and why so many modern extreme metal bands continue to draw inspiration from it.

By the end of the night, Death To All had done exactly what they set out to do. This wasn’t just a nostalgia trip for older fans. It was a passionate, high-energy reminder of why Death remains one of the most important bands in metal history.

For a hot and sweaty couple of hours in North London, Chuck Schuldiner’s music felt every bit as vital and powerful as it ever did. If you’ve been a fan of Death or just enjoy the genre, catch them when you can!

All concert photography by Graham Hilling. You can check out more of his work on his website, here.

Death To All: Website

Cryptic Shift: Website

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