Gene Hoglan recently addressed whether Death To All — the tribute project featuring former members of Death celebrating the life and music of Chuck Schuldiner — has ever considered writing and recording all-new original music.
When asked if the band would ever venture into creating new material, Hoglan made it clear that releasing new music is not something the group is likely to pursue. He explained the reasoning behind that decision.
“No. I agree with Steve. People have asked [us that before], and it’s kind of… First of all, we probably wouldn’t have the time to be able to put things like that together,” Hoglan said. “But also, we are here to represent Death with the name Death To All.”
Hoglan went on to elaborate on the creative and logical complications that would arise from writing original songs under the Death To All banner.
“But for us to write music or something like that, it doesn’t make a ton of logical sense,” he continued. “‘Cause if we were to write songs — I’ve said it before — it’s like, do [we call it] ‘music inspired by Death’? And then there’s already Death riffs, so if our riffs sound similar to other riffs that are already written… It’s not a very complicated situation, but it is just a situation that if we never try to visit it, it’s gonna be okay.”
Hoglan also emphasized that the band’s current live performances already offer fans a comprehensive Death experience, spanning the full catalog.
“You get Death music, you get two hours of Death music, Chuck’s music, our music, all this together most nights. And if that isn’t enough for people, then, wow, we got some issues,” he said. “But I think it’s well represented every night. We always have great sound. Our performances are always killer, and we do run the entire gamut of the catalog. We play songs from every record. That’s our own mandate.”
Hoglan’s comments reflect a philosophy that has defined Death To All since its inception. The project is rooted entirely in preservation and celebration rather than expansion. Its continued activity on the road makes clear that the live stage remains its sole and deliberate focus.
Death To All was founded in 2012 by former Death members as a touring tribute to Chuck Schuldiner, who passed away in 2001. The project was built as a live vehicle for Death’s catalog, with no ambitions beyond honoring the music Schuldiner left behind. That founding purpose has remained unchanged across more than a decade of activity and over 250 concerts worldwide.
The group’s most recent touring chapter underscores just how committed the members are to that original vision. In 2025, Death To All announced The Symbolic Healing North American tour, built around the 30th anniversary of Symbolic and the 35th anniversary of Spiritual Healing. The tour featured support from Gorguts and Phobophilic. It stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of Death’s discography and the appetite fans still have for hearing it performed live by the musicians who helped create it.
Hoglan is one of the most decorated drummers in metal history. His career extends far beyond his time with Death. He served as Death’s drummer from 1993 to 1995, contributing to both Individual Thought Patterns and Symbolic. He later went on to notable tenures with Dark Angel and Testament, among others. His presence in Death To All lends the project an authenticity that few tribute acts can claim.
Chuck Schuldiner’s legacy continues to grow with each passing year. Death is widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of extreme metal. The band’s catalog spans from the raw aggression of Scream Bloody Gore to the progressive complexity of The Sound of Perseverance, and remains a benchmark for the genre. Death To All exists as a living extension of that legacy — and as Hoglan’s words make clear, that is more than enough.
Source: Altars Of Metal
