Chuck Schuldiner, the godfather of death metal and founder of the pioneering metal band Death, passed away on December 13th, 2001 at the age of 34. Chuck's influence on the metal genre can't be understated, with his first band, Mantas, laying the foundations of what would become death metal back in 1983. Not only did Chuck generate heavy music that relished in the darkness of human existence, but he often used it as a platform to express his heavy anti-racist and pro-animal rights views. With Death, Chuck also released some of the most beloved metal albums of all time, including 'Scream Bloody Gore', and 'Symbolic'. His solo album 'Control Denied' won critical acclaim despite some detracting from the album the fact that it was written just months before his death. Chuck's passing was a huge loss to the metal community, and his contribution to the genre continues to be remembered fondly. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, and fans all across the world.