Rigor Mortis - Welcome To Your Funeral: The Story Of Rigor Mortis

'Rigor Mortis - Welcome To Your Funeral: The Story Of Rigor Mortis (Part 1)' is an engrossing music documentary featuring Bruce Corbitt, Casey Orr, and other members of the influential thrash metal band, Rigor Mortis. This film is an intense investigation into the rise, evolution, and influential power of one of the crucial bands in the thrash metal genre. It chronicles their journey of struggle, success, companionship, and turbulence. Its unique storytelling captures every aspect of the band, their music, their influence, and their unforgettable legacy.

Directed by Michael Huebner and narrated firsthand by the band members themselves, the documentary presents an intimate look at Rigor Mortis's journey from their formation to their dizzying rise in the metal scene. This documentary presents a golden opportunity to gain insight into the band's creative process, its difficult times, and its eventual success. It remarkably brings the rollercoaster ride of their career to life on the big screen.

Bruce Corbitt, the vocalist, and Casey Orr, the bassist, discuss the band's beginning days when they were pioneering a fresh raw, thrash sound that was unlike anything the metal community had heard before. Being part of the thrash metal scene in the 1980s, the documentary traces their journey from garage band status to a renowned act known for intense and fast-paced music.

The film also features interviews from their peers in the music industry, who share their memories and accounts related to the band's performances and its members. Together, they illuminate the influence that Rigor Mortis had and continues to have on the thrash metal landscape. To a novice of thrash metal, it introduces the genre in an impassioned, respectful, and exciting manner, while seasoned veterans of metal music are treated to never-before-seen footage that adds depth and dimension to their understanding of the band.

'Welcome to Your Funeral' is not just a factual recounting of the band's chronology. It is an exploration of the band's dynamic, the music industry, and the socio-cultural setting that gave birth to, and shaped, their unique sound. The band's journey is dissected through the challenges of finding a record label, establishing a loyal fan base, and gaining industry recognition, to gaining a wider perspective on the growth and evolution of the metal subgenre as a whole. There's also a considerable emphasis on how Rigor Mortis’ music was driven by the personality and talent of its individual members, notably the strong personalities of Corbitt and Orr.

The title ‘Welcome to Your Funeral’ alludes to one of the signature songs of Rigor Mortis, bringing a sense of familiarity to fans while inciting curiosity amongst the uninitiated. The documentary is, in a way, a love letter to all Rigor Mortis fans worldwide, who are given an intimate glimpse behind the scenes of their favorite band, a look at their creative process, and an understanding of the band's impact on the music industry.

The documentary stands as a tribute to the spirit and fight that Rigor Mortis demonstrated throughout their career. It's packed with emotional interviews, rare photographs, and archive footage that's bound to be a treat for fans and enlightening for those interested in the history of thrash metal.

'Welcome to Your Funeral' poses an excellent framing of the story of Rigor Mortis, with Part 1 setting the stage and whetting the appetite for more. It stands as an engaging and informative documentary that demonstates the band's individuality, creativity, and perseverance. This is a compelling chapter of music history that deserves to be told and it’s a must-watch for anyone with even a slight interest in thrash metal, music history, or indeed, good storytelling.