Rigor Mortis is a thrash/speed metal band that formed in 1983 in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas metroplex. Two schoolmates Harden Harrison (drums) and Casey Orr (bass) formed the band when they met Mike Scaccia (guitar). The three young men shared an interest in horror/gore films and very heavy music. With Bruce Corbitt on vocals they created some of the heaviest thrash metal at the time often flirting with death metal. They were also one of the only major thrash bands from Texas and virtually created the underground metal scene there. The band was signed by Capitol Records in 1987.

In 2005, the original lineup reunited and performed at Ozzfest 2008 in Texas. In 2009, Rigor Mortis played in Germany at the Keep It True Festival. The band continues to reunite from time to time to play select shows. Rigor Mortis recently recorded their first album with the original lineup in 25 years. The album will be called "Slaves To The Grave" and will be released sometime in 2013. Rigor Mortis plans to tour extensively following this release. Mike Scaccia has also played guitar with industrial metal band Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Lard, and others. Casey Orr also plays bass in the shock rock band GWAR, as the character Beefcake the Mighty. He also plays bass for Dallas punk rock band The Hellions. Harden Harrison also plays drums with the metal bands Speedealer and Mitra.

Former Rigor Mortis vocalist/guitarist Doyle Bright now plays guitar in the metal band Hallows Eve. There was also a Rigor Mortis from New York that evolved into Immolation as well as a Los Angeles punk band named Rigormortis. Rigor Mortis is featured on the shirt of the creature on the Toxic Holocaust album Evil Never Dies from 2003. On December 23, 2012, the band's guitarist Mike Scaccia passed away from a heart attack while performing onstage.