Mortem is a

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

band formed in 1986 in

Lima, Peru Lima ( ; ), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings) is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón River, Chillón, Rímac River, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of t ...

. They are the first Peruvian metal band to have toured Europe and the United States. Mortem’s musical style is firmly rooted in the death metal,

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

and

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

of the 1980s. Mortem's characteristic heavy sound is defined through slow death metal alternated with fast and aggressive counterparts. Tremolo picking in the style of early

Possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...

and

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

built on rhythmic percussion topped with wailing atonal and melodic guitar solos. Vocals are forged from guttural rasps and often develop into high shrieks while lyrics deal mainly with the occult and anti-Christianity.

Biography

Mortem is one of the oldest and most celebrated bands from the obscure Peruvian

scene. Founded by Fernán Nebiros and Alvaro Amduscias in July–August 1986, Mortem has been through several line-up changes as they toured South America and released a number of demos. Mortem released their debut album

Demon Tales Mortem is a death metal band formed in 1986 in Lima, Peru. They are the first Peruvian metal band to have toured Europe and the United States. Mortem’s musical style is firmly rooted in the death metal, black metal and thrash metal of the 1980 ...

in 1996 after signing a record deal with Peruvian recordlabel Huasipungo Records. Demon Tales would be the second Peruvian metal album ever released, following the Hadez release ‘Aquelarre’ in 1993. Shortly after releasing

Mortem was signed to German metal label Merciless Records which made Mortem the first Peruvian metal band ever to sign to a European label. In 2003 and 2004, Mortem became the first Peruvian metal band in history to tour Europe and the United States. In 2007, with four full-length studio albums and one live album to their name, Mortem have achieved notable underground status and as such loyal support across the continents. Mortem has performed concerts with Sarcofago, Immolation,

Sadistic Intent Sadistic Intent is a death metal band from Los Angeles. Biography After the demise of Los Angeles, California's Devastation, which formed in 1986, Sadistic Intent began in 1987. The band quickly changed its line-up, then released a few rehears ...

Slayer Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...

, among others.

Line-up

*Fernán Nebiros – guitar, vocals (1986 – present) *Alvaro Amduscias – drums, bass, vocals (1986–1998, 2000 – present) *Christian Jhon – guitar (1999–1999, 2012–present) *José "Chino Morza" Okamura – bass ( 1991- 1991, 2000- 2000, 2012 - present)

Former members

*Pablo "Genocidio" Rey – guitar, bass (1988–1991) *José "Mortuorio" Sagar – drums (1987–1988) *Héctor Panty – guitar (1987–1988) *Hugo "Satanarchust" Calle – drums (1988–1989) *Janio "Tremolón" Cuadros – guitar (1989–1993), live guitar (2000–2003) *Javier "Manthas" Gamarra – bass (1991–1992) *José "Chino Morza" Okamura – live vocals, bass (1991–1991, 2000 - 2000) *Carlos Verástegui – bass (1992–1995) *Jaime García – drums (1998–2000) *Sandro García – guitar (1998–1999) *Juan C. Muro – bass (1995 – 2012) *Wilber Rosán – guitar (1993–1998, 1999 – 2012)

Discography

Studio albums

*1995: ''Demon Tales'' *1998: ''The Devil Speaks in Tongues'' *2000: ''Decomposed by Possession'' *2005: ''De Natura Daemonum'' *2016: ''Deinós Nekrómantis''

EPs

*2006: ''Devoted To Evil''

Demos

*1989: ''Evil Dead'' *1991: ''Superstition'' *1992: ''Vomit of the Earth'' *1993: ''Unearth the Buried Evil''

Live albums

*2007: ''Demonios Atacan Los Angeles''

References

External links

Official websiteMortem
on Myspace {{Authority control 1986 establishments in Peru Musical groups established in 1986 Musical quartets Peruvian black metal musical groups Peruvian death metal musical groups