Bruce Corbitt Of Rigor Mortis And Warbeast Dead At 56

For a few years, Bruce Corbitt, singer of death metal veterans Rigor Mortis and more recently frontman for heavy thrashers Warbeast, has been battling esophageal cancer.

Sadly, it appears that Bruce has lost that battle, as it was announced today that he passed away at the age of 56.

For many, Bruce's full-throated vocals in Rigor Mortis helped define a specific kind of death metal, somewhere between thrash and the modern brutality we now consider the genre's norm. Rigor Mortis' self-titled debut is a classic in death metal circles, hailed as one of the genre's great underground classics.

Corbitt revealed his health issues some time ago, and seemed to be in recovery, even playing live with Warbeast in July. However, a recent video posted to his Facebook reveals that he was not responding well to treatment.

Our hearts go out to Bruce's friends, family, and bandmates during this difficult time.

***

PHOTO: Ruby Scholling