«Rigor Mortis» is the debut album by the American band Rigor Mortis, released on 19 July 1988 by Capitol Records. It was recorded at Dallas Sound Lab in Texas, with Dave Ogilvie producing. The line-up was Bruce Corbitt on vocals, Mike Scaccia on guitar, Casey Orr on bass and Harden Harrison on drums.
“`Country: USA
Genre: Thrash Metal
For fans of: Slayer, Possessed, Kreator
The sound is thrash with a strong, dark, almost death-like feel, and the lyrics circle around gore and horror films. Scaccia’s guitar brings speed and a biting solo, while Corbitt sings with a voice that fits the mood. The band took its name from the condition of a dead body and played with a correspondingly dark disposition.
Standouts are «Welcome to Your Funeral», «Bodily Dismemberment» and «Wizard of Gore». «Slow Death» closes the album with a heavier, slow tempo, while «Die in Pain» keeps the speed high. «Condemned to Hell» and «Vampire» also deliver strong moments. The sound is darker than mid-era Texas thrash, with a heavy, almost deadly tone.
The album was recorded in Texas with Ogilvie producing and released by the major Capitol, something rare for such a hard band at the time. The band came out of the Dallas–Fort Worth scene. Rigor Mortis played live often in Texas and built a reputation for intense shows.
Scaccia later became known with Ministry, and the album remains a hidden gem of American thrash, with a strong cult reputation among fans of the genre. It was later reissued in a remastered edition.
See also: Exodus – Bonded by Blood and Sepultura – Beneath the Remains.
