Origins of Cannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1988. The original lineup featured Chris Barnes (vocals), Bob Rusay and Jack Owen (guitars), Alex Webster (bass), and Paul Mazurkiewicz (drums). The lads (Barnes, Rusay and Mazurkiewicz) met whilst still in school and formed the band with Webster and Owen whom they knew from the local gig scene. The members had all been in other bands that whist not acheiving a whole lot really set them up to become a solid death metal band from the outset. Based on that Their sound drew from early death metal pioneers such as Death, Possessed, and Morbid Angel.
The band’s debut album, Eaten Back to Life (1990), quickly gained an underground following despite being what one would call a little rough around the edges. Their next album Butchered at Birth 1991 showcased a much more refined technique as well as highly elevated levels of gore and album covers that couldn’t help but garner the band attention.
For More detailed reviews of the first Cannibal Corpse Releases click on the album covers!
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Tomb of the Mutilated
It was 1991 that really saw things take off for the band with the release of “Tomb of the Mutilated” featuring one of the most offensive cover art works ever published by anyone. The band was still unheard of in all but the most underground of metal circles at this point but this cover got them them a lot of media attention which even saw the bands releases this one and the previous two releases being banned in Australia as well as other parts of the world. Interviews in more mainstream metal mags followed and the popularlity of the band really started to rise. Bigger tours and more backlash from the media kept the profile of the band rising. The clincher being when actor Jim Carrey (a known metalhed) got them a cameo on the movie “Ace Ventura – Pet Detective”. The band credit this moment as their break through moment, propelling the band into the top tier of death metal right then and there.
Chris Barnes’s Gore-Filled Lyrics
Vocalist Chris Barnes became infamous for his graphic, horror-inspired lyricism. His songs, including the notorious “Entrails Ripped from a Virgin’s C*nt,” combined extreme gore storytelling with death metal aggression. Barnes described his lyrical style as a raw reflection of horror cinema and crime fiction.
Controversial Album Artwork
The band’s album covers, painted by Vincent Locke, depicted necrophilia, mutilation, and other taboo subjects. These covers led to widespread censorship:
- In Germany, several albums were banned, including Butchered at Birth and Tomb of the Mutilated.
- In Australia, their albums were restricted or banned entirely until the mid-2000s.
- Some releases had altered or censored covers to comply with regulations.
Political and Cultural Backlash
In 1995, U.S. presidential candidate Bob Dole criticized Cannibal Corpse for “undermining American morals.” The band’s music was frequently cited during debates over violent content in media, placing them alongside rap and heavy metal acts facing similar scrutiny.
International Censorship & Touring Bans
The group faced government pushback in multiple countries. In Russia, lyrics and artwork were officially banned, and several shows were canceled. Bassist Alex Webster defended the band’s work as fictional, likening it to horror films, while drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz criticized “cancel culture” for targeting fantasy art.
Real-Life Violence & Band Safety
In 1994, gang members confronted the band in Los Angeles, objecting to Barnes’s lyrics. The incident escalated when a gun was drawn—highlighting the potential real-world dangers their controversial art could attract.
Ongoing Controversy in the Digital Age
In recent years, social media users have criticized songs like “Necropedophile,” reigniting debates over whether art depicting extreme violence can—or should—be separated from the artist. The metal community remains divided, with many defending Cannibal Corpse’s right to extreme expression.
Legacy of Cannibal Corpse
Despite—or perhaps because of—their controversies, Cannibal Corpse has become the best-selling death metal band of all time. Their early years remain a defining chapter in extreme metal history, cementing their status as a band that challenged censorship and cultural limits for decades.