Deceased

Virginia-based death metal outfit Deceased originated in 1985 through the production and underground circulation of demo tapes that gradually strengthened their presence. A 1988 hit-and-run claimed the life of founding bassist Rob Sterzel, after which Les Snyder stepped into the role. With guitarists Mark Adams and Mike Smith plus drummer/vocalist King Fowley completing the lineup, Deceased secured their place as Relapse Records’ first signing. The single Gutwrench surfaced in 1991, setting the stage for the band’s debut full-length, Luck of the Corpse, the following year. Within months they followed with the five-song EP The 13 Frightened Souls, whose tracks traversed death, speed, and thrash territory. Two further 1995 releases arrived in the form of the studio album Blueprints for Madness and the Last World Records compilation Death Metal from the Grave, which blended early demos with live material. Critical recognition arrived on a broader scale with 1997’s Fearless Undead Machines and continued with the equally well-received Supernatural Addiction.