MORTEM was founded as a Black-Death-Thrash metal act in July-August 1986 by brothers Nebiros (guitars & bass) and Amduscias (drums & vocals), who were unaware of the existence of any other underground metal bands in South America other than Brazil and Chile. Back then, they called it simply "Black Metal", because of the lyrics dealing with occultism and horror. The main influences of the members were SLAYER, SACRIFICE, MERCYFUL FATE, DEATH and POSSESSED.
In 1987, the two-member band recorded a 5-song pre-demo called "Historias de la Cripta" ("Tales from the Crypt") that was never distributed among Peruvian metalheads, but will be released through Legion of Death Records soon.
In the following months, now aware that there were bands like HASTUR, KRANIUM, HADEZ and CURRICULUM MORTIS out there, MORTEM started looking for a full line up to play in the gigs of the dawn of the Peruvian underground metal scene. There weren't many musicians ready for the job, because the scene was just in its inception, and some of the available ones didn't want to be in a band with the lyrics MORTEM exhibited. However, among others, José "Mortuorio" Sagar (drums) and Héctor Panty (guitar) played shortly in the band.
In August 1988, the band recorded a two-song rehearsal with the following line-up: Amduscias (bass/vocals), Nebiros (guitar), Pablo "Genocidio" Rey (guitar) and José "Mortuorio" Sagar (drums), a tape that was distributed only among the most extreme metal maniacs of the time. In November that same year, the band recorded a 6-song rehearsal with Hugo "Satanarchust" Calle on the drums replacing "Mortuorio", and these two rehearsals will be available through Legion of Death Records as well.
In 1989, Janio "Tremolón" Cuadros joined the band as a guitarist, while Pablo took care of the bass (after a period during which Javier "Chato Mantas" Gamarra, ex-ARMAGEDÓN, was the bassist), and Amduscias went back to the drums/vocals duties. With this line-up, MORTEM recorded their two first official demos: "Evil Dead"('89) and "Superstition" ('91), which showed brutality, darkness and precision never attested before in any Peruvian metal band. "Superstition" was distributed by the legendary American label Wild Rags. José "Chino Morza" Okamura permormed the vocals in the live shows promoting the "Superstition" demo.
In 1992, Pablo left the band and was replaced by Carlos Verástegui, and the band recorded the third demo, "Vomit of the Earth", the fastest and most brutal Peruvian production of the time, with the best sound and production ever conceivable those days, and this demo was distributed through Osmose Productions. In 1993, Janio left the band and was replaced by Wilber Rosán, and with this line-up, the band recorded their fourth demo, featuring Nebiros handling the vocals and the guitar, as ever since has been. "Unearth the Buried Evil" was the title, which led them to sign with Peruvian label Huasipungo Records in 1995, and the outcome was "Demon Tales", the second Peruvian Metal CD in our history (the first one being HADEZ's "Aquelarre").
The international underground scene praised this record as a refreshing old-school release, in times when Norse BM and modern DM were fashionable in the world. Before the album was recorded, Carlos had left the band and Juan Carlos Muro has been in charge of the bass ever since. In 1996, Merciless Records signs the band for a re-edition of "Demon Tales" and a second album (CD/LP versions), and MORTEM becomes the first Peruvian metal band ever to be signed by a European label and the first Peruvian band to release an LP.
The second full-length, "The Devil Speaks in Tongues" (1988), was recorded with the García brothers (Jaime and Sandro), who replaced Amduscias and Wilber, respectively, who had left momentarily because of travelling and work. This CD is considered a masterpiece in the world underground scene, praised as "Seven Churches II" by many.
In 2000, after Sandro had left and had been replaced for a while by Christian Jhon (ex-MORTALA), who in turn left for the US, Wilber re-joined the band, the band recorded their 3rd full-length, "Decomposed by Possession". Despite the many problems the band had to go through in the studio and despite Nebiros's departure to the States, the album had a great response, and Peruvian and South American gigs took place with Janio Cuadros replacing Nebiros on the guitar and José "Chino Morza" Okamura being the vocalist once again, and with Amduscias back on the drums.
The promotion of this third LP/CD led MORTEM to their first and second European tours in 2003-2004, as well as their first USA tour, with Nebiros back on the guitar/vocals duties. These small tours were historical in our scene, because it was the first time ever for a Peruvian metal band to play in Europe and the States, and to this date, MORTEM still remains as the only Peruvian band to achieve such an international exposure.
In August 2004, the band recorded their 4th CD/LP, "De Natura Daemonum", this time with Iron Pegasus, a production that surpassed the previous ones in brutality, heaviness, and tightness. Only excellent reviews were harvested with this production, and the second USA tour (2005) took place to promote this record. MORTEM has shared stage with SARCOFAGO, POSSESSED, MALEVOLENT CREATION, DIABOLIC, ACHERON, CRIMINAL, IMMOLATION, SADISTIC INTENT, THE CHASM, PENTACLE, INQUISITION, DISINTER (U.S.A.), NOMINON, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, HAMMERFALL, INFINITUM OBSCURE, and many more brutal and respected bands.
In 2007, the EP/MCD "Devoted to Evil" was issued through the Norwegian label Worship Him Records, containing two new versions of old songs, SACRIFICE's cover "Afterlife" and three very raw pre-production tracks of 1999 and 2002. Likewise, the band's first official interactive live CD, "Demonios atacan Los Angeles" was released in March 2007 through the Peruvian label Heavier Records, including 11 raw and barbaric live tracks plus a video of 4 tracks belonging to the same gig.
In the latest gig in Hollywood, Chris Jhon supported MORTEM just like in the old times, with his landmark savage solos!!!!!!
Expect new fierce attacks from the oldest non-wimping band of South America!!!!!!!!!!
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