Early Days:
Cannibal Corpse formed in Buffalo, New York in 1988. The lineup was vocalist Chris Barnes, guitarists Bob Rusay and Jack Owen, bassist Alex Webster, and drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz. They were quickly signed by Metal Blade Records and released their debut album Eaten Back To Life in 1990.
Underground Popularity:
Cannibal Corpse became one of the most influential death metal bands and very popular in the extreme metal scene. There have been a few lineup changes, most notably the exit of Barnes in 1996. He was replaced by George "Corpsegrinder" Fischer. Original member Jack Owen also left the band in 2004 and was replaced by Rob Barrett, who was with the band from 1994 to 1997.
Current Members:
Current band members with their side projects/former bands listed in parenthesis:
George "Corpse Grinder" Fischer - Vocals (Monstrosity, Paths Of Possession)
Pat O'Brien - Guitar (Ceremony, Chastain, Monstrosity, Nevermore)
Alex Webster - Bass (Alas)
Paul Mazurkiewicz - Drums (Tirant Sin)
Former Band Members:
Chris Barnes - Vocals (1989-1995)
Bob Rusay - Guitar (1989-1993)
Jack Owen - Guitar (1989-2004)
Rob Barrett - Guitar (1994-1997)
Discography:
1990 Eaten Back To Life (Metal Blade)
1991 Butchered At Birth (Metal Blade)
1992 Tomb Of The Mutilated (Metal Blade)
1993 Hammer Smashed Face EP (Metal Blade)
1994 The Bleeding (Metal Blade)
1996 Vile (Metal Blade)
1998 Gallery Of Suicide (Metal Blade)
1999 Bloodthirst (Metal Blade)
2002 Gore Obsessed (Metal Blade)
2004 The Wretched Spawn (Metal Blade)
2006 Kill (Metal Blade)
2009 Evisceration Plague (Metal Blade)
Essential Album:
Butchered At Birth
When selecting your favorite Cannibal Corpse album, a lot has to do with your preference of vocalists. George "Corpsegrinder" Fischer does a great job with the band, and has since he joined back in 1996. But I'm an old-school kind of guy, and give the nod to this album, which was recorded in the Chris Barnes era, circa 1991. It was the group's second full-length, and is a brutal exhibition of death metal.