Immolation is a death metal band from Yonkers, New York. They were formed in May 1986 by Andrew Sakowicz (Bass, Vocals) and Wilkinson (Drums) as Rigor Mortis (NY). The name was changed to Immolation in April 1988, after the "Warriors of Doom" demo which was done as Rigor Mortis and "Demo I" which was done as Immolation. The band got a deal with Roadrunner Records and released their debut album Dawn of Possession through them. They were dropped by the label when the label dropped nearly all of their death metal bands. Later, they were picked up by Metal Blade Records and released the three succeeding albums through them. After the second one Here in After, drummer Craig Smilowski left the band and was replaced by Alex Hernandez. The most recent two albums were released by Listenable Records, the same label which released an album by Hernandez's previous band Fallen Christ years before. Unholy Cult saw the departure of guitarist Thomas Wilkinson and the installation of ex-Angelcorpse guitarist Bill Taylor. Steve Shalaty replaced Hernandez on Harnessing Ruin.Immolation relies on riffs written in dissonant harmonic patterns, often dueling between the two guitars, to progress songs, typically over a complex rhythm and complex drum patterns. Drum parts are often written to follow the guitar riffs in a way that is unusual for most death metal. They and fellow New York death metal band, Suffocation, helped bring the New York death metal scene to the attention of the underground.Their lyrics are almost entirely anti-religion, especially Christianity. On the band's 2005 album, Harnessing Ruin, there are more lyrics touching on other subjects such as politics. This lyrical direction is further explored on the band's current 2007 album, Shadows in the Light and the EP Hope and Horror, which preceded the album.Immolation continues to tour at a steady pace in North America, as well as in mainland Europe.