Necrophagia

Not to be confused withNecrophagist.

Necrophagia(/nɛkroʊˈfeɪʒə/nek-roh-FAY-zhə) was an Americandeath metalband formed inWellsville, Ohioin 1983. The band is credited as one of the inaugural groups within the death metal genre, along withPossessedandDeath.

Necrophagia
Necrophagia at Hellfest 2012
Background information
Origin	Wellsville, Ohio,U.S.
Genres	Death metal
Years active	1983–1987 1997–2018
Labels	Red Stream Season of Mist New Renaissance
Past members	Frank Pucci Larry Maddison Anton Crowley (Philip Anselmo) Wayne Fabra Jared Faulk Steve Lehocky Dustin Havnen Mirai Kawashima Frediablo Opal Enthroned Undead Torment Boris Randall Serge Streltsov Jake Arnette Shawn Slusarek Damien Matthews Scrimm Abigail Lee Nero

History

Early years (1983–1997)

Necrophagia was formed byFrank "Killjoy" Pucciin 1983. The band name is derived from the act of cannibalizing, or eating a corpse. The word is a combination of the Greek wordsnekron(corpse), andphagein(to eat). Necrophagia was a popular group in the underground extreme metal "tape trading" scene. Their first full-length album,Season of the Dead,was recorded and released in 1987. The band split up sometime after the album's release. In 1990, an album namedReady for Death(recorded in 1986) was bootlegged by the label Embalming Records, and was given an official release of 500 on clear green vinyl when New Renaissance came to an agreement with Embalming Records.Ready for Deathwas later included as part of theA Legacy of Horror, Gore and Sicknesscompilation album in 2000.

Phil Anselmo era (1997–2001)

Killjoy befriendedPanterafrontmanPhil Anselmo,shortly after Necrophagia's demise. Phil wrote and shared some music with Killjoy, which persuaded him to resurrect Necrophagia in 1997.Killjoy and Anselmo (who played guitar under the pseudonym Anton Crowley) were joined by Wayne Fabra on drums and Dustin Havnen on bass guitar. Necrophagia releasedHolocausto de la Morte,as well as theBlack Blood VomitoriumEP, with the reformed line-up. Havnen was replaced by Jared Faulk in 2001. In addition, the group enlistedGorelordleader Frediablo as second guitarist, and Opal Enthroned on keyboards. Necrophagia released theCannibal HolocaustEP in 2001, along with their first DVD,Through Eyes of the Dead.Anselmo, Opal and Fabra departed the band shortly after the release. In addition, theHousecore/Baphomet Records label founded by Killjoy and Anselmo was dissolved, due to extreme scheduling conflicts and previous commitments.

Frediablo era (2002–2006)

Killjoy and Frediablo remained with Necrophagia. In 2002, the band added Fug (Frediablo's brother) on guitar, Iscariah (formerly ofImmortal) on bass guitar, Titta Tanni (ofDaemonia/New Goblinfame) on drums and Mirai Kawashima (of the Japaneseavant-gardeblack metalbandSigh) on keyboards. Necrophagia releasedThe Divine Art of Torture,Harvest Ritual Vol. 1and theGoblins Be ThineEP with the line-up. In addition, Necrophagia released their first live albumSlit Wrists And Casket Rot,which was recorded during their "Harvesting the Dead" tour.

Frediablo left the band in early 2006 to concentrate onGorelord.He was replaced by Undead Torment.

Recent activity

Necrophagia releasedDeath Trip 69in May 2011. The album featured several guest appearances, including Casey Chaos fromAmen,and formerMayhemvocalist Maniac.WhiteWorm Cathedralwas released in October 2014.Necrophagia supported1349on their "Chaos Raids North America" tour in May and June 2015.

On March 18, 2018, vocalist and founding member Killjoy died at the age of 51.

The band's final studio albumMoribundis Grimwas released on May 10, 2024. It features Killjoy's final recordings before his passing and is their sole album to feature guitarist Serge Streltsov.

Members

Final lineup

• Shawn Slusarek – drums (2010–2018)
• Serge Streltsov – guitars (2016–2018)
• Jake Arnette – bass (2016–2018)
• Frank "Killjoy" Pucci– vocals (1983–1987, 1998–2018; died 2018)

Former

• Scrimm – guitars (2012–2015)
• Abigail Lee Nero – guitars (2011–2014)
• Boris Randall – guitars (2010–2011)
• Undead Torment – guitars (2006–2011)
• Fug – guitars (2002–2010)
• Frediablo – guitars (2002–2005)
• Anton Crowley (Philip Anselmo) – guitars (1998–2001)
• Larry "Madthrash" Madison – guitars (1984–1987)
• Damien Matthews – bass (2010–2015)
• Iscariah – bass (2002–2010)
• Jared Faulk – bass (2001)
• Dustin Havnen – bass (1998–2001)
• Bill "Blaster" Bork – bass (1984–1987)
• Titta Tani – drums (2002–2010)
• Wayne Fabra – drums (1998–2002)
• Joe "Voyer" Blazer – drums (1984–1987)
• Mirai Kawashima – keyboards (2002–2008; 2014)
• Opal Enthroned – keyboards (2001, 2008–2011)
• Steve Lehocky – guitars (2015–2016)

Discography

Studio albums

• Season of the Dead(1987)
• Ready for Death(1990)
• Holocausto de la Morte(1998)
• The Divine Art of Torture(2003)
• Harvest Ritual Volume I(2005)
• Deathtrip 69(2011)
• WhiteWorm Cathedral(2014)
• Moribundis Grim(2024)

Other releases

• Death Is Fun(compilation) (1995)
• Black Blood Vomitorium(EP) (2000)
• A Legacy of Horror, Gore and Sickness(compilation) (2000)
• Cannibal Holocaust(EP) (2001)
• Reverse Voices of the Dead(split EP withAntaeus) (2001)
• Goblins Be Thine(EP) (2004)
• Slit Wrists and Casket Rot(live) (2006)
• Here Lies Necrophagia: 35 Years of Death Metal(compilation) (2019)

Timeline

External links

• NecrophagiaatAllMusic