Fatal Maim - 'One Beyond the Grave' (official album stream)

Η πρώιμη μορφή των Fatal Maim σχηματίσθηκε το 1984. Αποκαλούσαν την μουσική τους ως «original progressive heavy metal» (η HHR κάνει λόγο για μουσική που απευθύνεται στους φίλους μουσικώνσ χημάτων όπως οι Heathen, Metal Church, Liege Lord) και έμειναν ενεργοί μέχρι το 1991 χωρίς να κυκλοφορήσουν κάτι.

Ο δίσκος που είχαν στα σκαριά ("One Beyond the Grave") "βγήκε" τελικά το 2010 (σε CD-R) αν και υπάρχει η πληροφορία πως κυκλοφόρησε ανεπίσημα (και) το 1988. Σε λίγες ημέρες (9 Νοεμβρίου 2023) θα επανακυκλοφορήσει μέσω της Heaven and Hell Records τόσο σε cd όσο και σε ψηφιακή μορφή.

Το cd θα περιέχει και τέσσερα επιπλέον (bonus) τραγούδια σε σχέση με τα οκτώ της αρχικής έκδοσης. Δύο από τα μέλη του συγκροτήματος (ο τραγουδιστής Troy Earnest και ο κιθαρίστας Jody Earnest) προερχόταν από τους Anaconda (εκείνους από την Pennsylvania, όχι τους άλλους από το Arizona)...

Δελτίο τύπου: «The band, (what would later become FATAL MAIM) began to be conceived in 1984 after founding members drummer Bob Watters and bassist John Scarfone (both with Altoona / Pittsburgh power-thrash metal band Giornesto) saw a band called ANACONDA playing one night at a club called Sebastiano's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Watching the band they would discover lead singer Troy Earnest and his brother guitarist Jody Earnest.

After witnessing the two perform, hearing Jody’s blistering leads and Troy’s soaring vocal delivery, Scarfine and Watters would be more than impressed.

It would still not be until 1986, after the ending of ANACONDA, until FATAL MAIM would fully come together.

Additional guitarist Rich Piccerillo.who also served time in ANACONDA, would join the line-up. Now as a five piece, the band began rehearsing in Scarfone's attic downtown on 11th street, later moving to Watter's garage on the other side of town.

A couple more moves followed before the group finally set up permanent headquarters on the top floor of the Engine Room (what is now Dave Villani's Data Music Service Studios).

FATAL MAIM would keep a persistent practice schedule, rehearsing every other day. When the band started playing out, they quickly built a following and became regulars at local clubs such as the Engine Room, Sabs and Aldo's.

The band also played their share of keg parties; most memorable was Kegfest, their first time playing together in public at the clubhouse of a popular Gun Camp.

They also played some benefits at area fire halls. After a while, the band seemingly played itself out.

In 1988, Troy Earnest and Scarfone were recruited to help some of their friends/bandmates by working as lighting engineer/stage designers on tour with the pop band SIDEWALK ROMEO.

This tour took them all over the New England area and into Canada.

Scarfone had brought a 4-track recorder, a drum machine and custom suitcase-size guitar on the road.

Several of FATAL MAIM original songs were written while working in Nova Scotia and an extended stay in Canada due to weather, a week in Old Orchard Beach, Maine and another week long stint at William Henne's Management headquarters / band house in Ascutney, Vermont.

Not long after returning home with their stack of newly penned tunes, Scarfone and Earnest begin to revive the band.

Everyone knuckled down and practiced 24/7, becoming tighter and faster while gaining a greater appreciation for the band, the members and its purpose. FATAL MAIM’s next goal was to find a sponsor or financial backer and get into the studio to make a demo.

Once in the studio, the band layed down out enough tunes to make a small album. They then set out on the road in 1991 on the "Molest and Maul Tour" to promote the album "One Beyond The Grave."

Copies of the album were only self produced and distributed on tour as the band rode the East Coast club circuit. The power-thrash metal album would never receive a proper release or gain any label support before slipping into obscurity.»