Mortifix was formed in the summer of 1992 in Lubbock, Texas. The roots of the band date back to early 91’. Guitarists- Ronny Sterling (formerly of Grandma’s VD) and Tony Edminster, and drummer- Tom Brewer (ex Kartoon Kids) formed a band called Mortem which played mostly covers from groups like Slayer and Death. Keeping a solid lineup proved to be difficult and the band quickly fell apart. A few months later, Sterling enlisted young guitarist Steve Simpson to help form a new band to build upon the several original tunes that were started in Mortem. Simpson and Sterling quickly developed a formidable chemistry together and found someone new to man the drum kit in former Allister Axe drummer- Tim Taylor. The two met Taylor after visiting the local college radio station in which the disc jockey for the metal show was a friend of Sterling’s. The two went on the air during the metal show to place an ad for a drummer. The phone rang almost immediately with Taylor on the other end. The three got together, jammed and hit it off immediately. Taylor was unfamiliar with the extreme stylings and faster tempos of Sterling and Simpson’s influences, but caught on rather quickly. Taylor placed a call to his former Allister Axe bandmate, bassist- Jason Phillips. Phillips jumped right on board, and the four rehearsed tirelessly on mostly originals with a few covers mixed in. As the band's sound began to come together, they needed a frontman to round it out. Several people tried out for the position, but no one brought the right sound and attitude to the table. The as then incomplete group set about recording their first 4 track demo tape. At that same time, a roommate of Sterling’s, named at the time, Shawn Hollingsworth (he later changed his surname to Cooley) volunteered his services. Cooley was a transplant from the Permian Basin area of Texas and had several years experience singing in various Midland/Odessa bands, including Last Rites. Although his background was more in the mainstream power/vocal type metal, he expressed interest in doing a more extreme form of metal. Cooley wrote lyrics and laid vocal tracks on the bands 4 track, before even trying out in person with the group. The style, sound, and attitude was a perfect fit. The completed band took the moniker of “Mortifix” and released the “Mortified” demo. The first stop made was back to the radio station where the metal show played the demo in it’s entirety and interviewed the group. The band quickly gained a strong local following, and the first live gig ever played was opening for national act, Nuclear Assault. The band continued to write and play around west Texas to ever increasing crowds. The first of several member changes came when bass player Jason Phillips bowed out. He was replaced by Todd Turzer, and the band fired the 4 track back up and recorded the “Darkened Truth” demo in early 93’. The band’s sound had become a lot faster and more ferocious with the new demo. Even some blast beats were incorporated into the band’s sound. Local airplay continued on, as did the shows. Even a local business used a clip of the song “Now I Hate” in a television commercial, which aired steadily for several months. Quite a feat for a group that had only been together for less than a year, especially playing the particularly controversial music style in a city that has more churches per capita than any other American city. The band’s popularity grew regionally through endless gigs and promotion, and the band garnered a local reputation as a fierce, unstoppable force. The next member to leave was drummer Tim Taylor. Taylor went on to explore other interests, and the band took a temporary hiatus to assume the difficult task of finding a replacement. Taylor was a critical part of the sound and power the band had developed, and replacing him was no easy task. Countless drummers tried out, but no one had proved able to keep up with the band’s breakneck tempos. After much no-luck, the band recruited drummer Keith Avant. Avant was a very capable drummer and a staple in several different local cover bands. He played many different styles and quickly rose to the task. The band woodshedded for several months and wrote new material together and entered the studio to record the 1994 “Eternal Pain” e.p. The songs on “Eternal Pain” were way more diverse and melodic than the previous recordings, as well as more polished production. The e.p was the first project to be recorded in a state-of-the-art studio. The e.p sold well and the band, thanks to concert promoter Lane Arnold, was given the opening slot for the sold out Slayer show in Lubbock; a privilege and longtime dream for everyone in the band. In late 94’, came another lineup change. The band and guitarist Steve Simpson parted ways. He was replaced by Tony Edminster from the pre-Mortifix incarnation, Mortem. Shortly after, drummer Keith Avant left the group to go to college. Avant was replaced by David Williamson. Williamson, an extremely talented drummer stayed on with the band long enough to write a new batch of material that proved to be Mortifix’s heaviest material to date. Unfortunately, Williamson opted to relocate and was unable to continue on with the band. Bassist Todd Turzer departed soon after. After another hiatus, Shawn contacted an old bandmate of his from Midland/Odessa, bassist Michael Elsner. Elsner took the bass position, and drummer Tim Taylor returned to the fold and the new lineup went back into the studio to record 1996’s “Torture Syndrome”. Some critics regard “Torture Syndrome” to be the band’s finest hour, as it showed a more mature and streamlined sound. However, in 97, guitarist/founder Ronny Sterling announced to the band that he would be moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to take a career job. The news was devastating and the band, unable to comprehend having to replace the founder and principal songwriter, disbanded. Shawn Cooley relocated to DFW as well to try and find a new start. Sterling and Cooley stayed in touch, and eventually ran into drummer Tom Brewer (also from the Mortem days) and began to write together. The time proved right to resurrect the band. Original guitarist Steve Simpson relocated to Dallas to rejoin the fold along with local bass favorite Allen Culmo to round out the new Mortifix. With Simpson back on guitar and a new rhythm section, the band’s new sound was faster, heavier, and more punishing than ever before. It didn’t take long to win over the demanding DFW metal fans. The band played any and everywhere it could, and word spread quickly about the band’s tight, stop-on-a-dime live shows. The band teamed up with producer D. Braxton Henry, who has produced a myriad of successful records, to record the 1999 full length album “Reborn Through Hatred”. The album’s flawless production was the first recording ever of the band to truly capture the band’s heavy wall-of-sound, that could only be heard at live shows beforehand. The band toured regionally, as the member’s work schedules would permit. However, through time, the band began to drift in different musical directions. The climate of the local scene was shifting, and most of the venues that welcomed the band began to go out of business one by one. Most of the other local groups who shared bills with the band were also falling apart. The demise of Mortifix came finally, in late 2001. BUT...GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD. ..

Source : http://www.myspace.com/therealmortifix