Rigor Mortis (band)

Rigor Mortis

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	November 1983
Headquarters	Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas , United States
Products	Thrash metal music

Rigor Mortis was a thrash metal group originating from the Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas metropolitan area, established in November 1983.

History

Drummer Harden Harrison and bassist Casey Orr joined forces with guitarist Mike Scaccia and vocalist Bruce Corbitt to create some of the most intense thrash metal, incorporating influences from death metal. As one of Texas's prominent thrash bands, they played a key role in shaping the local underground metal scene. The band secured a contract with Capitol Records in 1987.

The initial members reunited in 2005, appearing at Ozzfest in Texas in 2008 and later at the Keep It True Festival in Germany in 2009.

Guitarist Mike Scaccia also contributed to industrial metal groups such as Ministry, Revolting Cocks, and Lard. Casey Orr is known for his role as bassist in shock rock act Gwar under his stage name Beefcake the Mighty. Harden Harrison performs drums for Speedealer and Mitra, while Bruce Corbitt led the thrash band Warbeast. Former vocalist and guitarist Doyle Bright was involved with Hallows Eve and currently heads SOG.

On December 23, 2012, Mike Scaccia passed away due to a heart attack during a live show.

Rigor Mortis independently released their last album, Slaves to the Grave, on October 6, 2014. The recording took place in February 2012 at Ministry's 13th Planet Studios. Lacking label backing, they raised $22,838 through fan pre-orders to fund the release.

Bruce Corbitt died on January 25, 2019, after a battle with cancer. The surviving members continue to perform Rigor Mortis songs under the name Wizards of Gore as a tribute to Scaccia.

Musical style

The band's sound evolved from speed metal through thrash metal to elements of death metal. Their self-titled debut album showcases complex and "furiously fast" compositions. The lyrics draw heavily on horror motifs inspired by movies such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and A Nightmare on Elm Street, delivering "stories of death and doom" designed for entertainment. The EP Freaks featured Doyle Bright on vocals, whose style closely resembled that of his predecessor.

Timeline

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Colors =

 id:Vocals  value:red     legend:Vocals
 id:Guitar  value:green   legend:Guitar
 id:Bass    value:blue    legend:Bass
 id:Drums   value:orange  legend:Drums
 id:Lines   value:black   legend:Studio releases

LineData =

 at:19/07/1988 color:Black layer:Back
 at:08/05/1991 color:Black layer:Back
 at:06/10/2014 color:Black layer:Back

BarData =

 bar:Bruce   text:"Bruce Corbitt"
 bar:Doyle   text:"Doyle Bright"
 bar:Mike    text:"Mike Scaccia"
 bar:Mike2   text:"Mike Taylor"
 bar:Casey   text:"Casey Orr"
 bar:Harden  text:"Harden Harrison"

PlotData =

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
 bar:Bruce   from:01/01/1986 till:01/01/1989 color:Vocals
 bar:Doyle   from:01/01/1989 till:01/01/1992 color:Vocals
 bar:Bruce   from:01/01/2005 till:23/12/2012 color:Vocals
 bar:Bruce   from:14/07/2013 till:14/07/2013 color:Vocals
 bar:Bruce   from:14/07/2015 till:14/07/2015 color:Vocals
 bar:Doyle   from:11/08/2015 till:11/08/2015 color:Vocals
 bar:Mike    from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1992 color:Guitar
 bar:Mike    from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1986 color:Vocals width:3
 bar:Mike    from:01/01/2005 till:23/12/2012 color:Guitar
 bar:Mike2   from:14/07/2013 till:14/07/2013 color:Guitar
 bar:Mike2   from:14/07/2015 till:14/07/2015 color:Guitar
 bar:Mike2   from:11/08/2015 till:11/08/2015 color:Guitar
 bar:Casey   from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1992 color:Bass
 bar:Casey   from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1992 color:Vocals width:3
 bar:Casey   from:01/01/2005 till:23/12/2012 color:Bass
 bar:Casey   from:01/01/2005 till=23-12-2012 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar=Casey   from=14-07-2013 till=14-07-2013 color=Bass 
 bar=Casey   from=14-07-2013 till=14-07-2013 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar=Casey   from=14-07-2015 till=14-07-2015 color=Bass 
 bar=Casey   from=14-07-2015 till=14-07-2015 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar=Casey   from=11-08-2015 till=11-08-2015 color=Bass 
 bar=Casey   from=11-08-2015 till=11-08-2015 color=vocals width=3 
 bar:Harden from=01-01-1983 till=01-01-1992 color=Drums 
 bar:Harden from=01-01-1983 till=01-01-1992 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar:Harden from=01-01-2005 till=23-12-2012 color=Drums 
 bar:Harden from=01-01-2005 till=23-12-2012 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar:Harden from=14-07-2013 till=14-07-2013 color=Drums 
 bar:Harden from=14-07-2013 till=14-07-2013 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar:Harden from=14-07-2015 till=14-07-2015 color=Drums 
 bar:Harden from=14-07-2015 till=14-07-2015 color=Vocals width=3 
 bar:Harden from=11-08-2015 till=11-08-2015 color=Drums 
 bar:Harden from=11-08-2015 till=11-08-2015 color=Vocals width=3 

</timeline>

Selected discography

• 1986: Demo 1986
• 1988: The Decline of the Western Civilization Part 2 (The Metal Years) Soundtrack (Capitol)
• 1988: Demons Demo
• 1988: Rigor Mortis (Capitol) – Issued on July 19, 1988
• 1989: Freaks EP (Metal Blade)
• 1991: Rigor Mortis Vs. The Earth (Triple X)
• 1991: Contributed "Psycho Therapy" to the Ramones tribute compilation Gabba Gabba Hey (Triple X)
• 2014: Slaves to the Grave
• 2018: Freaks Demo '89

References

Sources

• History of Rigor Mortis featuring Bruce Corbitt
• Interview with Voices from the Darkside
• The Metal Den interview including Bruce Corbitt
• http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/rigor-mortis-slaves-to-the-grave-album-details-revealed/