The untimely and quite sad passing of Deceased’s drummer, Dave “Scarface” Castillo (RIP), last year, even before the Deceased–Ghostly White album was released really shook the band members and underground scene.  I’ve met him briefly a few times, at live Deceased’s shows and he always was in a good mood.  Founding member, King Fowley, has done a nice job of keeping Dave’s name out there and what he meant to the band members and friends/family.  This has culminated with the band self-issuing this live cd, Death Metal From The Dave.  Only 300 of these were pressed and it’s an awesome live show from one of Dave’s last shows with Deceased.  The album was recorded on August 4, 2018 at The Earl, in Atlanta, GA.   The band later has had it mixed and this is a great set list.  This contains over 60 minutes of pure raging Death Metal From The Grave, by Deceased, with songs spanning over the majority of the band’s career full-length releases.

If you have never seen Deceased live, then you have been missing out on a real fun live act, who bring to the crowd a very tight sound, but with a lot of laughter and jokes, between songs, by the madman, King.  I can remember one of my career highlights when I was with Internal Bleeding was playing the CMJ music festival in NYC in 1995.  Our debut album, Voracious Contempt was out and so was Deceased’s second album The Blueprints for Madness.  I had been a long time Deceased fan so seeing them also play the show I was always blown away at how King could drum and sing so well at the same time.  That is pure talent.  He and I quickly bonded and joked around and it was a great show.  Throughout the years I continue to see the band live and, while King, no longer drums, they put on a great show and the last show I saw them play, he and I hung out for a while and I watched their merch booth for a while.  Another thing about the band is their merchandise.  They only print up some shirts for live shows, so I am fortunate to own some of these exclusive shirts.

The live line-up for this particular live cd was: King Fowley-vocals, Shane Fuegel and Matt Ibach on guitar, Walter White-bass and Dave Castillo on drums.  The set-list:  “Night of the Deceased”, “The Premonition”, “Fading Survival”, “The Mausoleum”, “Psychedelic Warriors”, “Morbid Shape in Black”, “The Silent Creature”, “Haunted Cerebellum”, “The Triangle” and “Fearless Undead Machines”.  The cd mastering is one long 63 minute song, so each song is not individually separated.  Manufactured on a cd-r with a well put together slim digipack.  Great live shot of Dave adorning the cover.  The liner notes are from the various Deceased band members as well as a little biography, of Dave, from one of his family members.  The back of the cd has a band picture as well.

The live sound is simply fantastic and the raw in your face Deceased aggression is excellent.  The band in top form and King always asking for the band to go faster.  His innuendos and jokes/banter between tunes is fun and the band is just having a blast.  Bringing it back to the liner notes and reading the members recall Dave it sounds like he was a super good dude, who just happened to be a great drummer to go along with being a good person.  He will be sorely missed, but his music lives on and this is a real great and special release Deceased have put out to honor Dave “Scarface” Castillo.  RIP metal brother and UP THOSE FUCKING TOMBSTONES!!

 

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