Death To All Honor Chuck Schuldiner With A Flawless Sold-Out Show In Athens

Gagarin 205 was packed for a night where Death’s music was not treated as nostalgia, but as a living, breathing force.

Published: June 24, 2026 • 6:05 pm EEST · Live report by Altars of Metal

There are tribute bands, there are anniversary tours, and then there is Death To All.

On June 13, 2026, Gagarin 205 in Athens was packed for a sold-out night dedicated to the music, vision and lasting impact of Chuck Schuldiner and Death. This was not simply another extreme metal show. It felt like a gathering of people who understand that this music is not just part of death metal history; in many ways, it helped define what death metal could become.

This Death To All Athens live report captures a sold-out night at Gagarin 205 dedicated to the music, vision and lasting impact of Chuck Schuldiner and Death.

With Bloodbath as support, the evening already had the weight of a proper death metal event before Death To All even stepped on stage. The Swedish death metal veterans delivered a compact, filthy and direct set that leaned heavily into the old-school side of their catalogue, opening with “So You Die” and moving through “Breeding Death”, “Like Fire”, “Outnumbering the Day”, “Cancer of the Soul”, “Mock the Cross” and, of course, closing with “Eaten”.

It was exactly the kind of support slot this show needed: brutal, professional and straight to the point, without trying to steal the emotional center of the night.

When Death To All appeared, the atmosphere changed

This is the closest many fans will ever come to experiencing the music of Death performed by musicians directly connected to its legacy. Gene Hoglan, Steve Di Giorgio and Bobby Koelble are not outsiders paying respects from a distance. They are part of the story. Alongside Max Phelps on vocals and guitar, Death To All brought the material to life with the kind of precision, intensity and respect that made the show feel less like nostalgia and more like a living continuation of Chuck Schuldiner’s work.

The band opened with “Infernal Death” as an intro before going straight into “Living Monstrosity”, and from that moment on, Gagarin 205 was locked in. “Defensive Personalities”, “Lack of Comprehension” and “Altering the Future” quickly established the tone: sharp, technical, heavy and emotionally charged. There was no sense of a band simply running through classics. Every riff was treated with purpose, every transition was tight, and every song carried the weight it deserved.

A sound mix worthy of the music

One of the most impressive things about the show was the sound. People were talking about it all night. In a venue packed with extreme metal fans, where fast drums, intricate bass lines and layered guitars can easily become a wall of noise, Death To All sounded remarkably clear.

Every instrument had space. Gene Hoglan’s drumming was massive but not overpowering. Steve Di Giorgio’s bass was audible and alive, not buried under the guitars. Bobby Koelble’s leads had definition, and Max Phelps’ vocals cut through the mix without feeling forced.

In our interview with Steve Di Giorgio and Gene Hoglan, they mentioned that the sound engineer was Vander Caselli, also known for his work with Sepultura. After hearing the result at Gagarin 205, that detail made perfect sense.

The sound was not just loud. It was controlled, balanced and powerful.

From “Spiritual Healing” to “Symbolic”

The setlist was built around the “Symbolic Healing” concept, honoring two of Death’s most important eras: Spiritual Healing and Symbolic. The title track “Spiritual Healing” was one of the night’s early high points, followed later by a powerful run through “Symbolic”, “Zero Tolerance”, “Empty Words”, “Sacred Serenity”, “1,000 Eyes”, “Without Judgement”, “Crystal Mountain”, “Misanthrope” and “Perennial Quest”.

Hearing that material performed with such discipline and feeling was a reminder of how far ahead of its time Death really was. These songs still sound extreme, but they also sound intelligent, emotional and restless. They are not frozen in the era that produced them. They still move.

Max Phelps had an impossible role — and handled it with respect

Max Phelps deserves special mention. Taking on Chuck Schuldiner’s parts is not just difficult; it is almost an impossible assignment. The goal cannot be imitation alone. It has to be respect, accuracy and conviction.

Phelps handled the role with confidence, delivering the vocals and guitar work in a way that honored the songs without turning the performance into a copy. He understood the material, and more importantly, he understood the responsibility.

The encore brought the emotional release everyone expected. “Spirit Crusher” hit with full force, and “Pull the Plug” closed the night in the only way it could. For more than two hours, Death To All gave Athens a performance that was technically excellent, emotionally honest and worthy of the name it carries.

A sold-out night that proved the legacy is alive

The fact that the Athens show was sold out says a lot. The fact that other stops on the same run were also marked sold out says even more. Decades after Chuck Schuldiner changed extreme metal forever, the demand to hear this music live remains very real.

Death To All did not come to Athens to recreate the past as a museum piece. They came to remind everyone why these songs still matter.

And judging by the reaction inside Gagarin 205, Athens understood that perfectly.

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Bloodbath setlist

1. So You Die
2. Breeding Death
3. Carved
4. Like Fire
5. Outnumbering the Day
6. Putrefying Corpse
7. Cancer of the Soul
8. Brave New Hell
9. Mock the Cross
10. Fleischmann
11. Let the Stillborn Come to Me
12. Cry My Name
13. Eaten

Death To All setlist

1. Infernal Death intro
2. Living Monstrosity
3. Defensive Personalities
4. Lack of Comprehension
5. Altering the Future
6. Zombie Ritual
7. Within the Mind
8. The Philosopher
9. Spiritual Healing
10. Symbolic
11. Zero Tolerance
12. Empty Words
13. Sacred Serenity
14. 1,000 Eyes
15. Without Judgement
16. Crystal Mountain
17. Misanthrope
18. Perennial Quest

Encore

19. Spirit Crusher
20. Pull the Plug

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Watch our interview with Steve Di Giorgio and Gene Hoglan

Before the Athens show, Altars of Metal spoke with Steve Di Giorgio and Gene Hoglan about Death To All, Chuck Schuldiner’s legacy, the sound of the tour and the responsibility of performing this material live.

Watch the full interview above via the Altars of Metal YouTube channel.

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