Obituary

death metal · Brandon and Gibsonton

Founded

1988

City

Brandon and Gibsonton

Hub region

Tampa Bay

Status as of 5 September 2026

active; summer 2026 headline run; new album in the writing phase

Connections

44 edges, 43 distinct neighbors · betweenness 0.098 (rank 5 of 371) · people and production 0.033 (rank 17)

Confidence

High · sources: [W] [WSR] [WCD] [WBD] [WDE] [RVO] [KNO] [BOB] [MSO] [CLO] [MA] (register)

Slowly We Rot (1989) is Scott Burns's first producer credit; Cause of Death (1990), The End Complete (1992) and World Demise (1994) follow at Morrisound. Cause of Death carries the Michael Whelan painting Roadrunner had rejected for Sepultura. The band records at its own RedNeck Studios in Gibsonton from 2007. Terry Butler joins on bass in 2010. Dying of Everything (2023, Relapse) is the latest album; the Brass Mug homecoming shows of December 2025 close the Florida Swamp tour.

Connections

People and personnel

• founderJohn and Donald Tardy1988 to present
• founderTrevor Peres1988 to present
• memberAllen WestSlowly We Rot, The End Complete, World Demise1988 to 1989, 1991 to 1998, 2003 to 2006
• memberDaniel TuckerSlowly We Rot1988 to 1989
• memberFrank Watkins1989 to 1997, 2003 to 2010
• memberRalph SantollaXecutioner's Return2007 to 2011
• joined fromTerry ButlerBass2010 to present
• joined fromJames MurphyCause of Death1990 to 1991
• produced byScott BurnsSlowly We Rot to World Demise; executive producer of Frozen in Time (2005)1989 to 1994
• produced byMark PratorFrozen in Time, Xecutioner's Return, Darkest Day2005 to 2009
• staffEric GreifRepresented the band1990s

Lineage

• spawnedSix Feet UnderAllen West1993
• spawnedMeathook SeedTrevor Peres1993
• spawnedNocturnus ADDaniel Tucker2013
• spawnedInhuman ConditionTerry Butler2020
• grew out ofExecutioner and XecutionerExecutioner became Xecutioner in 1986 and Obituary in 19881988

Recording credits

• recorded atCriteria RecordingBack from the Dead (Jaime Locke)1996
• recorded atMorrisound RecordingSlowly We Rot, Cause of Death, The End Complete, World Demise (Scott Burns); Frozen in Time mixed and mastered 20051989 to 1994
• recorded atRed Room RecordersFrozen in Time tracked (Mark Prator)2005
• recorded atRedNeck StudiosXecutioner's Return, Darkest Day, Inked in Blood, Obituary, Dying of Everything2007 to 2023

Influence

• influenced bySlayerReign in Blood, cited by the Tardys1986
• influenced byNasty Savage1985
• influenced bySavatage1985
• influencedAutopsySlowly We Rot's tempos, in the death doom histories1989
• influencedEntombed1989
• influencedCreeping Death2016
• influencedFrozen SoulTempo and tone2018
• influencedUndeath2018

Labels, festivals, tours, collaborations

• collaborationNapalm DeathThe Tardys host the band during Harmony Corruption; John Tardy guests1990
• collaborationSepulturaCause of Death carries the Michael Whelan painting Roadrunner rejected for Beneath the Remains1990
• collaborationDeathJames Murphy moves between them; Chuck's rotating unit and the Brandon constant1989 to 1990
• collaborationMassacreAllen West between them1984
• collaborationSadusSadus dropped from the European tour in December 20242024
• collaborationCannibal CorpseThe Tampa neighbors after the move1994
• collaborationDeicideThe Roadrunner pair1980s
• collaborationSix Feet UnderAllen West, Terry Butler1993
• labelRoadrunner RecordsR/C imprint for Slowly We Rot1989 to 1997
• labelRelapse RecordsDying of Everything2010s to present
• festival, venue or tourThe Brass MugHomecoming shows, 13 and 14 December 20252025
• festival, venue or tourThe Ritz YborMasquerade showcases with the Europeans flying in1987 to 1988
• festival, venue or tourAce's RecordsThe fan hangout of the origin yearslate 1980s
• festival, venue or tourDynamo Open Air1990s
• festival, venue or tourMilwaukee Metalfest2026
• festival, venue or tourFlorida Metal Fest2016