Severance

Around 1989, the death metal outfit Severance came together in Texas, where they spent the bulk of the nineties toiling away without recognition. Their 1991 and 1992 demo recordings made some impact within underground metal circles, yet issues with band members soon halted all activity for four years. The group reemerged in 1996 via a self-funded full-length release called Salvation Denied, after which silence prevailed until 2000 brought a contract with Spain's Repulse label. Early the following year saw the arrival of their sophomore effort What Lies Ahead, which boasted the lineup of vocalist Joe Vasquez alongside guitarists Ralph Gutierrez and Lupe Duque, bassist Abiel Barrerra, and drummer Jaime Pérez.