Rotting Corpse

The fertile Texas metal scene of the 1980s was a tight-knit and widespread clan that spawned every type of banger brigade from bloodthirsty Corpus Christi ragers Devastation to brainy Austin visionaries Watchtower. The Lone Star State even had its own Slayer! Riding out of Dallas like a tornado, spitting out guitar splinters, came sick-sounding early thrashers Rotting Corpse. Formed by Dimebag (then “Diamond”) Darrell Abbott’s guitar tech Walt Trachsler and fellow Pantera roadie Jim “Moe” Mulqueen while their bosses were still in spandex and pumping Keel and Cinderella covers, Rotting Corpse also included future Solitude Aeturnus guitarist, John Perez. Soon, Steve Murphy joined on bass. From 1985 to 1990, they ripped out four demo tapes full of meaty, relentless Exodus/S.O.D.-style thrash delivered with maniacal relish. The Rotting Corpse tapes have zealous energy that can’t be faked, and compared to a lot of excitable demo bands at the time, they could actually play their asses off—and hold fast tempos together. For a band that for some reason never released a record, Rotting Corpse has a hell of a legacy. Along the way, they swapped members with Gammacide, Hellpreacher, and Devastation. Walter Trachsler briefly played guitar with Death on the ill-fated Spiritual Healing tour. It sure sounds like these guys influenced Pantera’s direction in the 1990s, and carves a path straight to current-day Texans like Power Trip. -Ian Christie