Deceased (band)

Last updated

Deceased
Deceased (2005).jpg
Deceased in 2005
Background information
Origin Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Genres Death metal, thrash metal
Years active1984–present
LabelsPATAC, Thrash Corner, Hell's Headbangers
MembersKing Fowley
Les Snyder
Mike Smith
Shane Fuegal
Amos Rifkin

Deceased (often stylized as DECEASED...) is an American death/thrash metal band from Virginia. In 1990 they were the first band to sign with Relapse Records, and released four albums and a number of EPs before parting ways with the label in 2003. Their sound centers around themes of horror, with lyrics barked and sometimes narrated by vocalist and founder King Fowley.

Contents

History

King Fowley and guitarist Doug Souther started the band in 1984 in Arlington, Virginia with a goal to "out-thrash Slayer". [1] They experimented with a number of band names, formations and styles before settling on the Deceased name and first real lineup in 1986 consisting of Fowley on drums and vocals, Mark Adams joining Souther on guitar, and bassist Rob Sterzel. Tragedy struck the group on March 3, 1988, when Sterzel and several friends, including the brother of guitarist Doug Souther, were killed in a hit-and-run accident. [2] Les Snyder became the bassist later that year. Souther quit and was replaced by Mike Smith in 1991. The lineup of King Fowley, Mike Smith, Mark Adams, and Les Snyder lasted over a decade and recorded some of the group's most celebrated works. Changes began to reshape the band in 2003, when Dave "Scarface" Castillo stepped in as drummer, enabling Fowley to be frontman and vocalist. Mark Adams left in 2007 and was replaced by Shane Fuegal. Mike Smith retired from live performances in 2006, but remains a key songwriter and studio guitarist. Les Snyder relocated to Texas in 2009 and usually performs live for shows close to home.

Since leaving Relapse, Deceased have continuously released new material, including As the Weird Travel On (Thrash Corner Records) in 2005, an independent vinyl-only live album entitled Blood Orgy in College Park – Stalking the Airwaves in 2010, and the more recent LP Surreal Overdose in 2011 on their own Shrieks From the Hearse label in conjunction with PATAC Records. The November 2012 issue of Decibel contained a flexi-disc of an exclusive new track "The Luck of the Corpse". [3] A split 12" with the band Conceived By Hate, titled "The Figure of Uneasiness", was released in the fall of 2014 on El Salvador's Morbid Skull label, featuring four live-in-the-studio recordings with the current live lineup. A new album, entitled Ghostly White, was released in 2018 through Hell's Headbangers Records. Drummer David "Scarface" Castillo sadly drowned in November 2018. The band knew Dave would want them to carry on and found a drummer in friend Amos Rifkin and played live gigs all of 2019 as well as releasing a tribute live recording of one of Dave's last shows with the band called 'Death Metal from the Dave" to honor him. In June 2020 they released Rotten to the Core Part 2 [the Nightmare Continues] an all covers release of old punk/hardcore songs on Malt Soda Records. 2021 saw the band release an all thrash cover songs record called Thrash Times at Ridgemont High on Hells Headbangers Records in October. Their next studio record of new material is being written and is set to be released under the title "Children of the Morgue".

Members

Current members
Former members
Timeline
Deceased (band)

Discography

Compilation appearances

YearCompilationLabelSongAlbum
1992Death...Is Just the Beginning II Relapse Records "The 13 Frightened Souls"Rough version
19935 Years Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast "Nuclear Exorcist" 13 Frightened Souls
Corporate Death (A Relapse Multi Death Compilation)Relapse Records"Robotic Village"
1995Death...Is Just the Beginning III"Creek of the Dead" The Blueprints for Madness
UHF/VHF"Midnight"
HUH CD 7Huh Music Service"The Triangle"
2 Noise Pollution (Terrorizer Magazine Free CD April 1995)Triumphington Publishing Company"Alternate Dimensions"
Nuclear Blast Soundcheck Series: Volume 3Nuclear Blast"Midnight"
Traces of Death IIIRelapse Records"Into the Bizarre"
1996Audio EspionageAx/ction Records"Robotic Village" (Live)Recorded at The Cave, Manassas VA (3/11/94)
1997PromoRelapse Records"Fearless Undead Machines" Fearless Undead Machines
1998Solid:Strip Mining the Underground Since 1990"Graphic Repulsion"
Contamination MCMXCVII (Polluting the Scene Since 1990)"Beyond Science"
Mercyful Fate Tribute Listenable Records "Nuns Have No Fun"Previously unreleased Mercyful Fate cover
1999Relapse Records Sampler Spring 1999Relapse Records"Beyond Science"Fearless Undead Machines
A Call to Irons 2: A Tribute to Iron MaidenDwell Records"2 Minutes to Midnight"Previously unreleased Iron Maiden cover
Land of the Wizard: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne"S.A.T.O."Previously unreleased Ozzy Osbourne cover
Dead Forever: Tribute to Motörhead"Stay Clean"Previously unreleased Motörhead cover
A Tribute to Mercyful FateStill Dead Records"Doomed by the Living Dead"Previously unreleased Mercyful Fate cover
2000Contaminated 3.0Relapse Records"A Very Familiar Stranger" Supernatural Addiction
Wizards of Gore: A Tributo to ImpetigoRazorback Records"Dis-organ-ized"Previously unreleased Impetigo cover
2001Contaminated 4.0Relapse Records"It's Alive" Behind the Mourner's Veil
Under the Guillotine: Tribute to KreatorDwell Records"Tormentor"Previously unreleased Kreator cover
2002We Don't Need Society: Tribute to D.R.I.Malt Soda Records"Madman"Previously unreleased D.R.I. cover

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References

  1. "<meta HTTP-equiv='Content-Type' content='text/HTML; charset=iso-8859-1' /> NameBright – Coming Soon". Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  2. "Deceased – 1988 the Accident: Newspaper Article Rob Sterzel". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  3. "FEAR, EMPTINESS, DECIBEL: STREAM THE NEW DECEASED FLEXI DISC!". Metalsucks.net. September 13, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  4. "DECEASED Stream Two New Tracks Online; Release Date Set For Surreal Overdose Album". Bravewords.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.