Abscess was formed in Oakland, California, in June of 1994 as Autopsy, Hexx and Immortal Fate had broken up. In July they recorded a demo containing six tracks and in August came another six track demo. In January of 1995 another one with seven songs and later that year the three demo tapes were released as an album by Relapse Records.
In 1996 the band recorded a new album entitled "Seminal Vampires & Maggotmen", again on Relapse. In 1997 the original member and former Autopsy member Freeway Migliore left the band. In June they recorded a 7" EP called "Throbbing Black Werebeast" through Relapse Records. On this one Chris Reifert filled in on bass.
In 1998 the former Von member Joe Allen joins the band on bass to replace Freeway and in August they recorded a four track demo called "Open Wound" which led to the signing with French Listenable Records in 1999. They started to record their new album "Tormented" at Sound Temple studios but as the owner of the studio was evicted they ended up losing all the tapes.
In May of 2000 the band entered the Different Fur studio in San Francisco to re-record "Tormented". The same month Joe Allen decided to leave the band and they also recorded a new two song demo with Danny handling the bass this time.
In 2001 they released a split 10" with Deranged from Sweden on Listenable Records with three tracks recorded during the "Tormented" sessions. A split cd with the Spanish band Machetazo was also released on Ironia / Upground Records with two tracks from the "Open Wound" demo. Then the entire demo was released as a 7" EP on From Beyond Records.
In February of 2002 their next album "Through The Cracks Of Death" was recorded for their new label Peaceville Records which also was the label for Autopsy. In May Joe Allen rejoined the band as well.
