Obituary can rightfully call themselves death metal acts of the first hour. Emerging from the band Xecutioner in 1985, their frontman John Tardy set them apart from all other bands of this genre right from the start.
If the lyrical outpourings of most thrashing bards are incomprehensible anyway - mostly not particularly informative, either, unless you identify with some gore-technical practice - Tardy largely dispenses with lyrics in the beginning and just bawls anything into the mic that seems mood-appropriate at the time.
Musically, the guys from Brandon, Florida are never interested in treating speed as a priority. Atmospheric density is far more important, and the songs (with the exception of the debut) often inhabit the midtempo realm.
Lyrics source: http://www.laut.en/Obituaryand more information about this event: https://zoomfrankfurt.com/event/konzert-obituaryeuropean-headlining-tour-2018
