Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1988, currently based in Tampa, Florida. The band has released sixteen studio albums, two box sets, four video albums, and two live albums. Although the band has had limited radio or television exposure, it developed a dedicated following through the release of its early albums, including "Butchered at Birth" (1991) and "Tomb of the Mutilated" (1992). By 2015, Cannibal Corpse had sold approximately two million albums worldwide. Their fifteenth studio album, "Violence Unimagined" (2021), achieved the band's first Top 10 placement on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart, debuting at number six with 14,000 copies sold. The current lineup consists of drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, bassist Alex Webster, vocalist George Fisher, and guitarists Rob Barrett and Erik Rutan, with Mazurkiewicz and Webster being the only consistent members since the band's formation.
Cannibal Corpse was formed in December 1988 by members of the recently disbanded Buffalo-area death metal groups Beyond Death and Tirant Sin. The band's name was suggested by Webster. The group recorded a five-song demo, commonly known as "A Skull Full of Maggots," and performed their first show in March 1989 at the River Rock Cafe in Buffalo. Early performances included opening for bands such as Dark Angel, Bloodfeast, The Accüsed, Death, and Kreator. The band signed with Metal Blade Records in July 1989.
Their debut album, "Eaten Back to Life," was released in August 1990. The band subsequently relocated to Tampa, Florida, to engage with the emerging death metal scene. Their second album, "Butchered at Birth," was released on July 1, 1991, followed by tours in Europe and North America. Tensions developed between members during this period, leading to a brief dissolution, after which the band reformed and continued touring with acts such as Atheist, Gorguts, Obituary, Malevolent Creation, and Agnostic Front.
The third album, "Tomb of the Mutilated," was released on September 22, 1992. Founding guitarist Bob Rusay was dismissed in February 1993 and replaced by Rob Barrett. The decision was attributed to professional considerations and differences in musical approach. Rusay later withdrew from the music industry and became a golf instructor. Following the dismissal, the band toured extensively in the United States and Europe.
In 1994, Cannibal Corpse made a cameo in the film "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," performing an abridged version of "Hammer Smashed Face." Their fourth album, "The Bleeding," was released on April 12, 1994. The band continued to develop musically and relocated permanently to Florida.
During the recording of their fifth album, "Vile" (1996), original vocalist Chris Barnes was dismissed and replaced by George Fisher, previously of Monstrosity. Barnes later focused on his band Six Feet Under. Guitarist Jack Owen left in 2004 and was replaced by Rob Barrett. Pat O'Brien replaced Barrett in 1997, who had left due to musical differences.
Subsequent albums include "Gallery of Suicide" (1998), "Bloodthirst" (1999), "Gore Obsessed" (2002), "The Wretched Spawn" (2004), "Kill" (2006), "Evisceration Plague" (2009), "Torture" (2012), "A Skeletal Domain" (2014), "Red Before Black" (2017), "Violence Unimagined" (2021), and "Chaos Horrific" (2023). The band has participated in numerous tours, often performing alongside acts such as Misfits, Anthrax, Life of Agony, Behemoth, In Flames, Dying Fetus, Children of Bodom, Slayer, Lamb of God, Amon Amarth, Thy Art is Murder, Whitechapel, Revocation, Dark Funeral, Immolation, Black Anvil, Meshuggah, and Carcass.
In 2018, guitarist Pat O'Brien was arrested, and Erik Rutan of Hate Eternal temporarily filled in for subsequent tours and later joined the band as a full-time member. Cannibal Corpse has maintained a consistent presence in the death metal genre and continues to tour internationally.
Studio albums
Eaten Back to Life (1990)
Butchered at Birth (1991)
Tomb of the Mutilated (1992)
The Bleeding (1994)
Vile (1996)
Gallery of Suicide (1998)
Bloodthirst (1999)
Gore Obsessed (2002)
The Wretched Spawn (2004)
Kill (2006)
Evisceration Plague (2009)
Torture (2012)
A Skeletal Domain (2014)
Red Before Black (2017)
Violence Unimagined (2021)
Chaos Horrific (2023)
Cannibal Corpse was formed in December 1988 by members of the recently disbanded Buffalo-area death metal groups Beyond Death and Tirant Sin. The band's name was suggested by Webster. The group recorded a five-song demo, commonly known as "A Skull Full of Maggots," and performed their first show in March 1989 at the River Rock Cafe in Buffalo. Early performances included opening for bands such as Dark Angel, Bloodfeast, The Accüsed, Death, and Kreator. The band signed with Metal Blade Records in July 1989.
Their debut album, "Eaten Back to Life," was released in August 1990. The band subsequently relocated to Tampa, Florida, to engage with the emerging death metal scene. Their second album, "Butchered at Birth," was released on July 1, 1991, followed by tours in Europe and North America. Tensions developed between members during this period, leading to a brief dissolution, after which the band reformed and continued touring with acts such as Atheist, Gorguts, Obituary, Malevolent Creation, and Agnostic Front.
The third album, "Tomb of the Mutilated," was released on September 22, 1992. Founding guitarist Bob Rusay was dismissed in February 1993 and replaced by Rob Barrett. The decision was attributed to professional considerations and differences in musical approach. Rusay later withdrew from the music industry and became a golf instructor. Following the dismissal, the band toured extensively in the United States and Europe.
In 1994, Cannibal Corpse made a cameo in the film "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," performing an abridged version of "Hammer Smashed Face." Their fourth album, "The Bleeding," was released on April 12, 1994. The band continued to develop musically and relocated permanently to Florida.
During the recording of their fifth album, "Vile" (1996), original vocalist Chris Barnes was dismissed and replaced by George Fisher, previously of Monstrosity. Barnes later focused on his band Six Feet Under. Guitarist Jack Owen left in 2004 and was replaced by Rob Barrett. Pat O'Brien replaced Barrett in 1997, who had left due to musical differences.
Subsequent albums include "Gallery of Suicide" (1998), "Bloodthirst" (1999), "Gore Obsessed" (2002), "The Wretched Spawn" (2004), "Kill" (2006), "Evisceration Plague" (2009), "Torture" (2012), "A Skeletal Domain" (2014), "Red Before Black" (2017), "Violence Unimagined" (2021), and "Chaos Horrific" (2023). The band has participated in numerous tours, often performing alongside acts such as Misfits, Anthrax, Life of Agony, Behemoth, In Flames, Dying Fetus, Children of Bodom, Slayer, Lamb of God, Amon Amarth, Thy Art is Murder, Whitechapel, Revocation, Dark Funeral, Immolation, Black Anvil, Meshuggah, and Carcass.
In 2018, guitarist Pat O'Brien was arrested, and Erik Rutan of Hate Eternal temporarily filled in for subsequent tours and later joined the band as a full-time member. Cannibal Corpse has maintained a consistent presence in the death metal genre and continues to tour internationally.
Studio albums
Eaten Back to Life (1990)
Butchered at Birth (1991)
Tomb of the Mutilated (1992)
The Bleeding (1994)
Vile (1996)
Gallery of Suicide (1998)
Bloodthirst (1999)
Gore Obsessed (2002)
The Wretched Spawn (2004)
Kill (2006)
Evisceration Plague (2009)
Torture (2012)
A Skeletal Domain (2014)
Red Before Black (2017)
Violence Unimagined (2021)
Chaos Horrific (2023)
