Founded by guitarist Mika Aalto in Vaasa, Finland, in 1993, the band quickly earned a reputation for being one of the most intense bands on the Scandinavian death metal/grindcore scene. Rotten Sound -- whose early influences included Slayer, Napalm Death, Suicidal Tendencies, Entombed, and Carcass -- started recording in 1994, when the headbangers' debut single Sick Bastard came out on the Genet label. Subsequent releases included 1995's Psychotic Veterinarian on SOA, 1996's Loosin' Face on Anomie, and 1997's Splitted Alive on IDS. Under Pressure, Rotten Sound's first full-length album, was released by Repulse Records (a Spanish label) in 1998 and was followed by Drain (also on Repulse) in 1999. In the early 2000s, Rotten Sound signed with Necropolis' Deathvomit subsidiary, which released Still Psycho in 2000 and Murderworks in 2002.
Over the years, Rotten Sound has had some personnel changes; in 2002, the band's lineup included founder Mika Aalto on guitar, vocalist Keijo Niinimaa on vocals, Mika Häkki (who replaced Pekka Ranta) on bass, and Kai Hahto on drums. 2005 saw the release of the Spinefarm-issued Exit, followed in 2008's by Cycles, and in 2011 the band inked a deal with Relapse and released Cursed, their sixth studio long player. Rotten Sound moved to Season of Mist for the 2013 EP Species At War and 2016's full-length Abuse to Suffer. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi