One of the early founders of death metal (along with Slaughter, whom Chuck briefly joined in Canada, and Possessed), the group behind 'Evil Chuck' was heavily influenced by Venom at first and was in fact called Mantas at inception.

At the demo stage (the better-known one being Mutilation) the band featured Rick Rozz and Kam Lee of Massacre. Relocating to California, Chuck recruited new members and released the debut album.

The first three albums (featuring Rozz and other Massacre members upon return at one point) were heavily influential upon the death metal scene. Despite this, Chuck had enough and left his own band shortly before the start of a European tour with Kreator. Instead of disbanding, the rest of the band recruited Devastation drummer and former roadie and hit the road. When Chuck returned (with an entirely new crew), the sound was more progressive than before and the singer/guitarist was more and more into heavy and power metal than death metal. A tour with Pestilence did not go well (aside from how Death had always been accused of giving weak shows) and after much inter-band fighting the trek is cut short. Individual... again featured a new line-up and the band toured North America with, among others, Viogression who were also managed by Death's manager. That man, Eric Greif, was fired shortly afterwards.

1996 saw Schuldiner calling it a day and announcing the formation of power metal band Control Denied - in which he only acted as a guitarist. It is only two years later that Death is back on and released a new album on a new label. Despite this Schuldiner called it a day again and announced that the future belongs solely to Control Denied. Sadly and in 1999 Schuldiner is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour and underwent several operations in the next two years. The metal scene is partially mobilized at this point to collect funds for Schuldiner as America does not provide its citizens medical coverage. Furthermore, Nuclear Blast released a mail order-only live album (second one from Death in 2001) to support Schuldiner with his finances. Despite the aggressive treatment Schuldiner died of cancer at 16:00 EST on 13.12.2001.

After much legal hassle between Karmageddon Media (formerly Hammerheart Records) and Jane Schuldiner, the mother of Chuck, the said label issued the last recording of the singer/guitarist under his name in the spring of 2004. The album was named Zero Tolerance. Nuclear Blast Records issued a Death DVD entitled Death: Live In Cottbus in November of 2005. It featured the same track listing as the Live In L.A. (Death & Raw) DVD/CD.

In 2008, Kam Lee decided to rerecord early Death and Mantas (pre-Death band) songs he had originally co-written.

DEATH - LIVE IN L.A. - NUCLEAR BLAST
The new Death album, one of death metal's rare live albums, is received with several raised eyebrows here at Metallian Towers. The simple and black jacket design is perhaps a bit too morbid given how band founder and main man Schuldiner is fighting for his life against cancer. Having said that an assumption is that the label is commemorating the passing of the band Death from the scene. Featuring 13 songs from Death's long list of available songs, Live In L.A. (which a year ago was scheduled to be released by Holland's Hammerheart Records) includes the band's better-known songs like Symbolic, The Philosopher, Pull The Plug and The Metallian's perennial favourite Zombie Ritual in a concise and orderly fashion. The sound, apart from a muffled rhythm guitar, is quite good and the rapping between songs is isolated to Schuldiner exulting and congratulating the metal crowd. Given that the US system does not provide for its citizens, there is another posthumous Death release to boost the money available for Schuldiner and his current treatment. If so, this release might not be the band's last. There are two reasons to buy Live In L.A. and each is good enough by itself. - Ali "The Metallian"