Post Mortem was an American

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, . ...

band, formed in 1982 in suburban Boston, Massachusetts. The band also helped pioneer the underground subgenre of death metal.

History

The band formed when its members were still in high school. They rehearsed every day, often rushing home to write music after classes. John McCarthy penned the personal songs while drummer Rick McIver wrote the gore lyrics. John Alexander helped write most of the songs. "Our whole concept was that we honestly didn't give a fuck. That's why we're lumped in with punk rock as well as

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

," McCarthy said, adding, "It's much better to piss off people who think they're pissed off than to piss off your grandma or your mother or your father." Post Mortem's debut album, '' Coroner's Office'', was released in 1986. ''Coroner's Office'' continues to find new listeners and is now as remembered for its unusual styling and flirtation with

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

and punk. The album proved very influential, as it brought musical experimentation common in metal among bands like

Cephalic Carnage Cephalic Carnage is an American death metal band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1992. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos. Cephalic Carnage has rel ...

and

The Dillinger Escape Plan The Dillinger Escape Plan was an American metalcore band. The band was formed in 1997 in Morris Plains, New Jersey by guitarist Ben Weinman, bassist Adam Doll, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, and drummer Chris Pennie. The band's use of odd time sign ...

. The band consists of John McCarthy (vocals), John Alexander (guitar), Mark Kelley (bass), and Rick "Ricky Magic" McIver (drums). Contrary to popular belief, Post Mortem were not named after the

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 ...

song, which was released in 1986.

Seth Putnam Seth Edward Putnam (May 15, 1968 – June 11, 2011) was an American musician who was the founder, vocalist and occasional guitarist of grindcore band Anal Cunt. He was known for his high-pitched screamed vocals and lyrics that either shock, off ...

, vocalist for

Anal Cunt Anal Cunt, also known as AxCx and A.C., was an American grindcore band that formed in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1988. From its inception, the band underwent a number of line-up changes and never had a bass player. The band, known for its flippan ...

, almost joined Post Mortem a few times, but did not actually do so until 1990 after Anal Cunt's first brief breakup. Putnam played various shows with the band and recorded one song with them; there are also live tapes and rehearsal tapes that exist with him on vocals. They did a tour in January 1991 that was supposed to be with Yugoslavian band Patareni but they could not leave their country. They did some more local shows and prepared for a new album until Putnam quit in 1992. After the death of their previous frontman John McCarthy, Putnam gave an interview and was asked about him. He said: " cCarthywas getting an SSI cheque and getting drunk on Listerine and shit like that. But I was surprised when he died. The strangest thing was that he was a grandfather at age 40. Even when he first had a kid I thought it was strange. He was one of my best friends of all time. I could say bad things about him but I won't because the good times outweigh the bad. In 2008, we played a show in California with Anal Blast and The Meat Shits. People were taking bets if I would die first or Don Decker from Anal Blast. Don died like a year later." Putnam also did vocals on the song "Oh So Evil" on Post Mortem's ''Message from the Dead'' album. Many metal bands have acknowledged the influence of Post Mortem, like Cianide,

Grief Grief is the response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or some living thing that has died, to which a bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, grief also has physical, cogni ...

(who covered the entire ''Coroner's Office'' album),

Disharmonic Orchestra Disharmonic Orchestra is an Austrian death metal/grindcore band. History The band was formed in Klagenfurt in 1987. Two demos were recorded. A gig in Germany with Pungent Stench led to a deal with Nuclear Blast in 1989. The first outcome of tha ...

, who covered "(It's Just) A Thought",Disharmonic Orchestra, ''Mind Seduction'', on Metal Archives
/ref> and Anal Cunt (who covered Post Mortem's "1066").

Members

Current members

*Mirai Kawashima – vocals *John Alexander – guitar *Mark Kelley – bass *Rick "Ricky Magic" McIver – drums

Founding members

*Norman McIver – vocals *Tom Nelligan – guitar *Mark Kelley – bass *Rick "Ricky Magic" McIver – drums

Notable past members

* John McCarthy – vocals (deceased 2009) *

(

) (deceased 2011) * Michelle Meldrum ( Phantom Blue and

Meldrum Meldrum was a multinational heavy metal band formed by ex- Phantom Blue guitarist Michelle Meldrum. History American guitarist Michelle Meldrum started her first band Wargod with Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan, later going on to form ...

) (deceased 2008) * Chris Jordan – vocals * Rich Goyette – guitar

Discography

*1982 "Run Amok" – cassette *1983 "Punk After Death" – cassette (recorded in 1982) *1985 "The Dead Shall Rise" – cassette *1985 "Death to the Masses" – cassette *1986 "Turkey on Your Nose..." – cassette *1986 "Speed Metal Hell II" – various artists *1986 "Thrash Metal Attack!" – various artists *1986 " Coroner's Office" – debut album (recorded in 1985) *1987 "The Missing Link" – EP *1988 "Beatings are in Order" – full-length album *1989 "Festival of Fun" – full-length album *1990 "Ring Around the Rectum" – single *1990 "Seasoned NoSalt Makes My Beef Stew Taste Like My Beef Stew" – single *1991 "Killed by the Machinery of Sorrow" – compilation CD *1993 "Destined for Failure" – full-length album *1994 "Court Metrage" – various artists *1995 "Convolutions" – full-length album *2007 "Deterioration of the Flesh" – live and some previously unreleased material *2009 "Message from the Dead" – full-length album

References

External links

Official websiteJohn McCarthy, at 40; was lead singer for local thrash rockers Post Mortem
{{Authority control American thrash metal musical groups Heavy metal musical groups from Massachusetts Musical groups established in 1982 1982 establishments in Massachusetts