Obituary is a pioneering American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1984. Originally known as Executioner, they played a key role in shaping the death metal sound and are among the genre's most influential and successful acts. Over their career, they have released eleven studio albums and remain active, aside from a brief hiatus between 1998 and 2003. The current lineup features John Tardy on vocals, Donald Tardy on drums, Trevor Peres on rhythm guitar, Terry Butler on bass, and Ken Andrews on lead guitar. The Tardy brothers and Trevor Peres have been the band's core members throughout its history.