The band formed in Stockholm in 1988 as a trio of vocalist/bassist Robert Senneback, guitarist David Blomqvist and drummer Fred Estby. This initial line-up only maintained itself for just over a year but did release two demos in the shape of 'Dismembered' and 'Last Blasphemies'. The original Dismember folded in late 1989 with Estby joining forces with Carnage and Blomqvist opting for Entombed. However, shortly before recording of the debut Carnage album Blomqvist jumped ship from his new act to join the band.
Carnage dissolved when guitarist Mike Amott quit to British extreme Metal act Carcass leaving Estby, Blomqvist and vocalist Matti Karki to resurrect Dismember. Still a trio, this new line-up released the Tomas Skogsberg produced 'Reborn In Blasphemy' demo before inviting Senneback, then a member of Unleashed, to resume his position in the band. Dismember also augmented their sound with the addition of ex-Carbonised bassist Richard Cabeza. Having signed to Germany's Nuclear Blast label, the first hard product to arrive was the inclusion of two of the latest demo tracks on the 'Death Is Just The Beginning' compilation album.
The band began recording in earnest in 1991 and released their debut album Like an Ever Flowing Stream that year. The album is today heralded as a milestone for the burgeoning Swedish death metal scene and established the band's fanbase, which was further bolstered by the controversy surrounding one song in particular, "Skin Her Alive". The song was confiscated by British and Australian customs for being 'indecent and obscene' (hence the title of their 1993 album). Her Majesty's customs had objected to song titles and lyrics such as 'Skin Her Alive' and 'Brutal Orgy Of Flesh'. The subsequent court case shot Dismember's name to the forefront of the current wave of Death metal acts.
The band toured Europe opening for Morbid Angel in June 1991 but these dates were curtailed due to disagreements between the two acts. Further live shows included Dismember's appearance at the Rock Hard festivals alongside Death, Pestilence and Napalm Death.
In 1992, Dismember released the Pieces EP, which saw more live shows in Europe, touring in conjunction with Obituary and Napalm Death and the following year continued with second full-length Indecent & Obscene which featured their song "Dreaming in Red"; the "Dreaming in Red" videoclip was shown in MTV's Headbangers Ball.
Like many of the other Scandinavian death metal bands, Dismember began softening their sound in the mid-1990s, with 1995's Massive Killing Capacity having more melodic approaches, which had a good public response. Nevertheless, they attempted a return to style with 1997's Death Metal, which ultimately became a sales disappointment.
-Tracklist:
Side A
1. Intro 02:11 instrumental
2. Dismembered 03:53
Side B
3. Sickening Art 04:09
4. Defective Decay 03:54
14:07
-Line up:
• Matti Kärki : Vocals (lead), Lyrics
• David Blomqvist : Guitars (rhythm) (lead on track 4), Bass
• Fred Estby : Drums, Lyrics.
Label: Nuclear Blast.
Recorded and mixed at Sunlight Studios, 1990.
Produced by Dismember, all music by Dismember.
This demo was both self-released by the band and released by Nuclear Blast:
Self-released version:
- Xeroxed covers
- Recorded onto studio tapes, usually black
Nuclear Blast version:
- Pro-covers
- Recorded onto studio tapes, usually black with a red sticker on the shell.
