by Eduardo RivadaviaFormed in 1996, when the average age of members Sauron (vocals), Vogg (guitar), Martin (bass), and Vitek (drums) was just 14, Decapitated have quickly gained recognition as one of Poland's, and even Europe's, finest exponents of ultra-technical death metal. These talents they perfected over the course of demos Cemeterial Gardens (1997) and The Eye of Horus (1998) before signing with Earache's Wicked World imprint for the release of their 2000 debut, Winds of Creation, which in turn led to a successful bout of U.K. touring in support of grindcore merchants Lock Up. The following year's The First Damned resurrected those early demos for official release, and ever improving follow-up efforts like Nihility (2002) and The Negation (2004) have only heightened the group's international profile since. Of note, starting in 1999, Vogg and Martin have also been involved with acclaimed Polish black metal band Lux Occulta.