For The Whole World to See: Death - "Story of The World" (Tryangle Records)

1976's best kept secret and a righteous-sounding precursor to Punk Rock, Death are gearing up to release their first single in nearly 40 years, "Relief/Story of The World" this upcoming Tuesday, July 30th. The Detroit Proto-Punk band were initially active from about 1971-77 , broke up upon major label distaste regarding their name, and moved to Vermont once Death split. Brothers Bobby, Dannis, & David Hackney went on to form 2 separate Gospel Rock/Reggae bands, The 4th Movement and Lambsbread. Sadly though, David Hackney passed away in 2000 (succumbing to lung cancer) right before Death's sudden resurgence; due in part to tech-savvy record collectors, Death's lone self-released single, "Politicians In My Eyes" rocketed to the top of thousands of blog-spun playlists once again, between 2008-09!


While their sons briefly toured as cover band Rough Francis, Bobby & Dannis Hackney triumphantly re-formed the band with long-time guitarist Bobbie Duncan. Soon thereafter, Drag City finally unleashed Death's previously unheard 1975 record, ...For The Whole World to See (2009). Billboard reports that "the band has also completed a 10-song LP, which includes six newly-recorded versions of classic 70's Death tracks and four new tunes conceived by Duncan." Death are in talks with a handful of labels, one of which they're hoping will release the currently untitled album by February 2014. "Story of The World," released concurrently with career-spanning Rock-umentary A Band Called Death, sounds just as urgent and culturally relevant as it would have way back in 1975! It kinda sounds like a long shot... But musically, I'd say Death's "new old" track sounds like "Battle of Evermore" era Led Zeppelin meets KISS' sludgy guitar riffs and booze-soaked rhythms.