This is the last of the Death reissue campaign by Relapse Records and the final release goes back to where it all started. Scream Bloody Gore is essential metal listening regardless of genre. This is primal, full assault, gory death metal at its finest, way before “Evil” Chuck Schuldiner began philosophizing about life on his later records. Opener “Infernal Death” says it all with Chuck crazily shouting “DIE, DIE, DIE”, like a manic call from the grave. Any kind of revisionist history that labels early Death as “generic” is off the mark as simply put, there was few like this in 1987 as this helped set off the genre of death metal.

Relapse has done a wonderful job with these reissues at its no different with this one as the booklet features old photos, concert adverts and linear notes by drummer Chris Reifert and Soulfly’s Max Cavalera who explained who he was tape trading with Chuck in the mid-‘80s and says it’s “one of death metal’s finest hours.”

Disc 2 of the reissue features the Original Florida Sessions which are all instrumental takes of seven tracks from the album except for “Legion Of Doom” and the Rehearsals from August 20th, 1986. The rehearsals provide the more interesting listening experience as it’s basically Chuck and Chris demoing the material that includes banter in-between takes. A fun little nugget is an impromptu cover of KISS’ “Do You Love Me” with Chris taking the vocals (not a bad singing voice he has!) Simply put, this is a must have for any Death fan and if you’re just getting into them, this is a great place to start.