American death metal band formed in Altamonte Springs, Florida in 1984 by Chuck Schuldiner (vocals/guitar, 1967-2001). Foundational to the development of death metal as a genre; widely cited as one of the originating acts alongside Possessed and Morbid Angel. Schuldiner is the only continuous member.
Seven studio albums between Scream Bloody Gore (1987) and The Sound of Perseverance (1998). Critical peak: Human (1991), Individual Thought Patterns (1993), and Symbolic (1995). Schuldiner died of brain cancer in December 2001 at age 34; the band has remained dissolved. The 2003 archival album Live in L.A. and various retrospective collections have continued his legacy.
