Deceased is a death/thrash metal band from Virginia that has attained a dedicated cult following throughout a lengthy recording and live career. As the first band to sign Relapse Records they released four full albums through the label along with a number of EPs, demos and re-releases of early demos. Leaving Relapse in 2003 to sign to Thrash Corner, the band continues to release material to this day. Their sound centers on themes of horror, with lyrics barked and sometimes narrated by vocalist and founder King Fowley. The band's songs typically work through several time signature and tempo changes. Retaining an almost punk/hardcore edge to their approach, Deceased have become more and more ambitious in terms of their use of melody in their progressive, lengthy thrash guitar workouts. This transition in their career was marked by the release of a full zombie concept LP, "Fearless Undead Machines", with cover art by painter Wes Benscoter and spoken samples from George A. Romero's "..of the Dead" films, as well as the band's own attempts to stage classic horror monologues and storytelling.