A grindcore-influenced death-metal duo from Yonkers, NY, Mortician is made up of vocalist/bassist Will Rahmer and guitarist/drum machine programmer Roger Beaujard. Although the group's sound is extreme and inaccessible to many ears, their song intros and use of slasher-film samples demonstrate a sense of humor (albeit a morbid one), overall a rare commodity in a genre that usually thrives on a dark, threatening posture. Mortician signed with the Relapse label and debuted in 1993 with Mortal Massacre, following it with 1996's The House by the Cemetery EP and 1997's full-length, evocatively titled Hacked Up for Barbecue. Further releases included 1998's Zombie Apocalypse and 1999's Chainsaw Dismemberment, which saw producer Desmond Tolhurst beginning to contribute guitar work as well. ~ Steve Huey