Death To All: Symbolic Healing Tour – A Masterclass in Death Metal Legacy

Photos and Review by David De La Huerta

The Danforth Music Hall was packed to the rafters, primed for a masterclass in death metal history as Death To All brought their Symbolic Healing Tour to Toronto. This tour celebrates two landmark Death albums: the thrash-infused Spiritual Healing (1990) and the progressive masterpiece Symbolic (1995)—the latter marking its 30th anniversary this year.

Phobophilic (Fargo, ND)

The evening ignited with Phobophilic, the Fargo-based quartet tasked with warming an already expectant crowd. They unleashed a crushing dose of old-school death metal, rooted in early ’90s brutality and fueled by relentless riffing.

Bassist Christian Sandvick and guitarist/vocalist Josh Turner led the assault with ferocious stage presence, swiftly transforming the floor into a frantic mosh pit. Phobophilic’s set was a bold statement of aggression and unadulterated metal energy—pure, no-frills devastation.

Gorguts (Québec, Canada)

Next, Canadian legends Gorguts commanded the stage, led by visionary guitarist Luc Lemay. They delivered a powerhouse set of progressive, technical death metal—dense, angular, and intricately complex—that captivated the hometown faithful.

Lemay’s stoic yet commanding aura anchored the chaos as the band navigated twisting structures from seminal albums like Obscura and Colored Sands. Highlights included the bizarrely intricate riffing of classics like “Considered Dead” and a brutal, calculated romp through “Earthly Love.” The band even teased the future with two brand-new tracks from their upcoming album, proving their evolution shows no signs of slowing.

Gorguts turned the night into a clinic in controlled mayhem.

Setlist:

Disincarnated
Subtle Body
Earthly Love
((New Song))
An Ocean of Wisdom
((New Song))
Condemned to Obscurity
Bodily Corrupted

Death To All

After a brief intermission, the headliners Death To All took the stage amid a sea of faithful metalheads—spanning early devotees to fresh converts. The atmosphere, supercharged by openers Phobophilic and Québec’s Gorguts, erupted in roars acknowledging the legacy of the late, great Chuck Schuldiner.

Death To All dove straight into the Death catalog without hesitation. Vocalist/guitarist Max Phelps tackled the Herculean role of channeling Schuldiner’s vocals and riffing with primal ferocity and technical precision. While no one can replicate Chuck, Phelps honored the material flawlessly—especially the biting social commentary in Spiritual Healing tracks.

Drum legend Gene Hoglan was a force of nature, his double-bass barrages and intricate fills laying an unbreakable foundation. Bass virtuoso Steve DiGiorgio, wielding his signature fretless, added elastic counter-melodies and groove that elevated songs like “Zero Tolerance” and “Lack of Comprehension” to living, breathing entities.

The Symbolic focus delivered the night’s pinnacle thrills. The title track’s melodic heaviness, the soul-stirring instrumental “Voice of the Soul,” and prog epics like “Crystal Mountain” showcased the band’s mastery of Death’s most ambitious era. Simple yet effective lighting and production kept the spotlight on the music’s sheer brilliance.

For two hours, Death To All proved Chuck Schuldiner’s music transcends time. It was a powerful, respectful, and devastatingly heavy tribute that left the Toronto crowd exhausted, exhilarated, and reaffirmed in why Schuldiner remains the undisputed pioneer of progressive death metal. The crushing encore sealed the deal—this was essential viewing for anyone who grasps the artistic chasm between generic death metal and Death’s visionary genius.

Setlist Highlights: Spiritual Healing, Symbolic, The Philosopher, Zero Tolerance, Voice of the Soul, Crystal Mountain.

Full Setlist:

Spiritual Healing