"Slowly We Rot" is the debut album by American death metal band Obituary. Released on May 16, 1989, it solidified the band's stature in the world of metal. The album is a defining point in the death metal genre, presenting a raw and somewhat primitive take on the style.
Obituary from Tampa, Florida, assembled in the mid-'80s under the initial name Xecutioner. Their distinctive approach to death metal incorporated varying tempos, hardcore punk rhythms and a feel that was uniquely their own. "Slowly We Rot" was their breakout moment, featuring a mixture of growling vocals, heavy guitar riffs, and rapid-fire drumming.
Every song on the album was composed by John Tardy, Donald Tardy, and Trevor Peres except for the title track which was written by John Tardy and the late bassist Daniel Tucker. Some notable songs from the album include "Internal Bleeding," "Godly Beings," and the title track, "Slowly We Rot."
The group was one of the first bands to adopt a slower approach to the death metal style, which added an eerie and heavy feel to the music. "Slowly We Rot," with its distinctive approach and raw production, became an influential recording within the genre. Even now, after more than thirty years since it was released, it is still celebrated as one of the seminal albums of death metal.
