Hard Rock/Metal

Death To All honored ’80s acclaimed cult favorite Death with class and utmost respect in Mesa

December 4, 2025

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Death To All concert on November 25th, 2025 — Death To All Concert at Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ on November 25th, 2025

Review by Val Tapia
Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: 13^th Floor Entertainment (https://www.13thfloorentertainment.com/ )
Venue: The Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ (https://www.theniletheater.com/ )
Date: November 25^th, 2025
Tour: Symbolic Healing Tour

Let me begin by saying it’s a bit of a disservice to classify Death To All as a mere “tribute” band to 80s seminal death metal act Death.

Yes, in the bigger picture they are paying tribute to that band, which the quartet of bassist Steve DiGiorgio, drummer Gene Hoglan, guitarist Bobby Koelble and vocalist/guitarist Max Phelps openly “and” proudly attest to.

Death To All Concert at Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ on November 25th, 2025

However, as members of various incarnations of Death (DiGiorgio, Hoglan and Koelble, respectively), Death To All is able to honor that band’s legacy in a way that many tribute bands could arguably never do… at least credibly. Therein lies the difference, at least to my thinking.

First, kudos to Death To All for playing a two-hour show! Speaking candidly, many (if not most) “extreme metal” bands perform paltry 80 to 90-minute sets. Which for the record is absolutely unacceptable from bands with a sizable catalog. Frankly, it surprises me that more fans and critics don’t call this out more often in 2025. But I digress.

Kicking off the 19-song set with “Living Monstrosity” followed by “Defensive Personalities”, it’s hard to believe these songs are now 35 years old. As is the album from which they appear on, 1990’s Spiritual Healing. Right out of the gate, the rhythm section of DiGiorgio and Hoglan were flat-out unstoppable— and one of the best that metal has to offer to this day.

Even though this tour centers on selections from Spiritual Healing as well as 1995’s Symbolic in its entirety, the band finds room for other classics as well early in the set. One of them being “Lack of Comprehension” (from 1991’s Human), which I believe was the first Death song I ever heard… via MTV’s Headbangers Ball.

Of the 300 or so fans who attended the show at the Nile Theatre in Mesa on Tues. November 25, there was no denying that they wanted to also pay their respects to Death’s fallen (and fearless) leader and chief songwriter Chuck Schuldiner.

Chants of “Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!” made their way around the very loyal fans of Death. Earlier in the night, a fifty-something fan I met was hoping for at least one song from the band’s 1987 debut album Scream Bloody Gore. He called it “the first-ever death metal album”.

With that, I’m sure he was happy to hear “Zombie Ritual”, as were many fans of his era going by the rabid applause it received. “Within The Mind” and “Spiritual Healing” were the final songs played from, of course, Spiritual Healing.

It’s hard to say which part of the Symbolic Healing tour was more anticipated, if you will. Was it the select tracks from Spiritual Healing? Or was it 1995’s Symbolic from start to finish?

It might have been the latter. “Symbolic” brought the house down with the moshing going on in front of me. Even during the mid-tempo parts of the song, fans still found a way to mosh to it. How they did it I’ll never know. But again, I digress.

I’m not sure if I would consider Death’s music “progressive metal”. However, there are certainly some progressive elements in the songs without question. Either way, Death To All’s focus is on the songs more than the individual chops. But make no mistake, the musicianship is nothing less than exceptional— for that reason alone.

“Empty Words” and “Sacred Serenity” are ideal examples of the latter. The band was musically tight and focused throughout the show. Dare I say it, I enjoyed this show more than Dark Angel at this same venue back in September.

Yes, Hoglan plays with them as well. But I’ll concede that I miss him in Testament, which I contend is still Hoglan’s finest work (overall) on record. Be that as it may, I’m glad that DiGiorgio is still with them. Rightly so I might add.

With any luck, we’ll be seeing Testament at some point in 2026, given that its new album Para Bellum was just released last month. Fingers crossed for their return to the Valley.

Philophobic Concert at Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ on November 25th, 2025

Back onstage, regarding the opening acts, Phobophilic did a quick 30-minute set that consisted of six songs I believe. Most of them were from 2022’s Enveloping Absurdity. Opening tune “The Illusion Of Self” had plenty of growling vocals, while “Nauseating Despair” contained the same. They were okay; however, they went over well with the crowd indeed.

Gorguts Concert at Nile Theater, Mesa, AZ on November 25th, 2025

Same with the band in the middle slot, Gorguts. Songs like “Considered Dead”, “Earthly Love” and “An Ocean Of Wisdom” were probably the better songs they played during their 45-minute set. Again, they fit the bill fine, but I can’t say they stood out from other bands of the “death metal” pack.

To that point, that’s the one thing about metal I can’t get behind. There are too many subgenres within this form of music to the point where it’s, frankly, “ridiculous”. I’m more than fine with calling it “hard rock” rather than “heavy metal” anyway. Covers more musical ground that way as well. Just my opinion mind you.

Or as DiGiorgio put it onstage, “it’s all just rock and roll”. Yes… I couldn’t agree with him more.

The final verdict? Four out of five stars for Death To All. Honestly, it would be great to see them write new music together. Whether that ever happens or not, I’m sure they did Mr. Schuldiner proud throughout the tour.

Death To All Social Media sites:
Website: https://reversedrecords.com/death-to-all/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Deathtoallofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deathtoallofficial

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