Godly Beings - 4-CD Box

Originally formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida under the name Executioner, the band created a style characterised by dense, groove-based, detuned riffs and the inhuman howl of frontman John Tardy. On early recordings, Tardy dispensed with language entirely in favour of guttural, indecipherable noises that fit the music perfectly.

Inspired by local heroes such as Nasty Savage and Savatage, as well as the primitive approach of Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Obituary made an instant impact, reaching a global audience with their appearance (under the name 'Xecutioner') on the seminal 'Raging Death' compilation released by Godly Records in 1987.

Their debut album, Slowly We Rot, blew minds everywhere, pushing the boundaries of death metal with its brutal vocal style and intense music. However, their second album, Cause of Death (bolstered by the addition of the talented guitarist James Murphy) raised the bar with superior production, iconic artwork, and a dark atmosphere permeating tracks such as 'Chopped in Half' and 'Turned Inside Out'.

After touring internationally, the band released their third album, The End Complete, in 1992, continuing their ascent and selling over 100,000 copies of the record in the US alone. By the time of 1994's World Demise, the band were experimenting with topics less focused on horror and adding an industrial tinge to their sound.

This release comes with liner notes by David Gehlke, author of Turned Inside Out, the official biography of Obituary. The CDs are housed in a sturdy slipcase box and are replicas of the original pressings in jewel cases, with additional bonus tracks. They are accompanied by four reproduction postcards featuring classic images of the band.