Carnivore

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ew York based Carnivore was started in 1982 by Louie Battreaux (drums) and Peter Steele (a.k.a. Lord Petrus Steele; Real Name: Petrus Thomas Ratajczyk; vocals/bass; ex-Fallout); both spelling their names in ways they took as 'exotic'. The pair enlisted the help of guitarist Keith Alexander and signed to 'Roadrunner' for the release of their eponymous debut in 1985, an album widely considered as unremarkable thrash metal, but nonetheless gaining media interest due to their strange stage image of dressing like warriors in torn clothing and spikes attached to hockey gear!

Their follow-up, Retalliation (1987), featuring Mark Piovantti (ex-Crumbsuckers) replacing Alexander on guitar arrived in 1987; Alexander leaving because he disliked the crossover genre path the band was now taking. This new album came across as less than professional and the band closed up soon after in 1988, with Piovantti re-joining Crumbsuckers and Steele forming Type O Negative. The compilation album Retaliation/Carnivore compilation would follow posthumously.

Although officially disbanded, the operation has reformed for reunion gigs since, featuring the original line-up during the 1990s, and a new 4 piece line-ups over 2006-07 until the death of Peter Steele on April 14, 2010.