Vocalist John Walker, bassist Ian Buchanan, and drummer Carl Stokes started Cancer in the late '80s as a brutal, simplistic death metal trio. Debuting with the amateurish To the Gory End, their lineup got a shot in the arm when ex-Obituary guitarist James Murphy signed on in 1992 for their technically impressive Death Shall Rise album. Although Murphy's stay was a short one, his standing in the death metal world gave the band enough notoriety to continue on, releasing 1993's The Sins of Mankind and 1995's Black Faith with guitarist Barry Savage. The band has since disappeared, assumed to be disbanded after leaving East West Records after their last release. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide
