In February 2012, the original lineup of Texas-based thrash metal legends RIGOR MORTIS - Mike Scaccia (guitar), Casey Orr (bass), Harden Harrison (drums), and Bruce Corbitt (vocals) - entered 13th Planet Studio in El Paso, to record what would become the band's final album.

Scaccia (MINISTRY, THE REVOLTING COCKS) died on December 23rd after suffering a seizure on stage at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas during Bruce Corbitt’s 50th birthday show.

The new album, entitled Slaves To The Grave, was mixed in Dallas by Kerry Crafton, who previously engineered the group's self-titled debut back in 1988, as well as the band's Rigor Mortis vs The Earth release.

Rigor Mortis recently posted the photo below with the following message: "This is last night right after we finished the final mix on the new Rigor Mortis album. Thanks to Kerry Crafton for doing such a great job... Mike would be proud."

Says Kerry Crafton: “After Mikey died, it was very hard to open up the session and get back to mixing. I expected to have my buddy Mike with me as I did all the mixes. Instead, we had just one day together to set up basic tones and for him to explain what was what. It was a couple of weeks before I was able to begin again. When I got back to it, I found it both heartbreaking and cathartic. Though Mike was gone physically, I still was blessed with his musical presence every day as I mixed on through the tears. Mixing sessions with the band were good group therapy. This record is amazing. Mike, Bruce Corbitt, Harden Harrison and Casey Orr all performed brilliantly in the recording of this album and I believe they all did the best work of their lives. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to mix this project for such a great group of musicians and friends. The depth and breadth of the material is really awesome. This will, obviously, be the last project from Rigor Mortis, but it is a great final musical statement.”

The CD is currently being shopped to several interested labels and a release is expected this summer. Stay tuned.