Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Alex Webster

Alex Webster (born October 25, 1969) is an American musician renowned as the bassist and co-founder of the influential death metal band Cannibal Corpse.^[1] Originating from Akron, New York, Webster has been a core member of the band since its inception in Buffalo in 1988, contributing to its status as a cornerstone of the genre through technically demanding bass work and songwriting.^[2] His style, characterized by rapid finger-style playing and intricate, riff-heavy compositions, has helped Cannibal Corpse sell millions of albums worldwide and maintain a prolific output of 16 studio albums as of 2023.^[3] Beyond Cannibal Corpse, Webster has pursued progressive and instrumental projects, including co-founding the math metal supergroup Blotted Science in 2005 and the progressive metal band Conquering Dystopia in 2014.^[1] In these endeavors, he explores more experimental structures while applying his signature precision and speed, often drawing from influences like classical music and progressive rock.^[4] Webster's role as Cannibal Corpse's primary lyricist further defines his impact, crafting the band's signature themes of horror and gore with a focus on rhythmic flow and memorability.^[5] Throughout his career, Webster has emphasized physical fitness and technical evolution, crediting running and disciplined practice for sustaining his high-energy performances into his 50s.^[3] His equipment choices, such as custom five-string Spector basses and Gallien-Krueger amplification, support his aggressive tone and versatility across metal subgenres.^[2] As of 2025, Webster remains active, with Cannibal Corpse having completed a North American tour and working on new material, solidifying his legacy as a pivotal figure in extreme metal.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Early Life

Childhood and Upbringing

Alex Webster was born on October 25, 1969, in Akron, New York, a small village in Erie County near Buffalo.^[2] Growing up in this rural yet culturally connected area of Western New York, he experienced a typical American childhood marked by local community influences and seasonal activities common to the region.^[9] At the age of six, Webster briefly attempted acoustic guitar lessons, lasting only a couple of months before he lost interest due to the structured nature of the instruction.^[10] This early foray into music was short-lived, but it occurred within the broader context of the Buffalo area's emerging local music environment, which included underground punk and hardcore shows that laid groundwork for heavier genres in the late 1970s and early 1980s.^[11] Webster's family maintained a Protestant Methodist background, which instilled a sense of moral structure and community involvement in his early worldview, though he later distanced himself from organized religion.^[12] This upbringing in the Buffalo vicinity provided a stable, working-class foundation before his interests shifted toward music during adolescence.

Introduction to Music

Alex Webster began playing bass guitar in 1984, drawn to the instrument by the aggressive sounds of hard rock and heavy metal bands prevalent at the time.^[5] Growing up in Buffalo, New York, he had access to a vibrant local music scene that fueled his interest. His early influences included groups like Accept, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slayer, whose rhythmic drive and complex bass lines inspired him to pick up the bass rather than continue with guitar, which he had briefly tried as a child but abandoned due to a lack of interest in folk-oriented lessons.^[5]^[13] Webster's decision to focus on bass stemmed from its appealing role in bridging drums and guitars within a band, as well as his perception that it was more accessible to master than guitar.^[13] He occasionally experimented with guitar later but preferred the bass for its tonal qualities and the way it allowed him to contribute dynamically to ensemble playing. In his early years, Webster developed songwriting habits centered on crafting intricate bass riffs and lines, often jamming ideas out on the instrument to build songs from the rhythm section upward, influenced by bassists like Iron Maiden's Steve Harris.^[13]^[5] In 1986, Webster co-founded the thrash metal band Beyond Death in Buffalo, New York, alongside guitarist Jack Owen and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer, where he served as both bassist and vocalist.^[14] The group was active until 1988, during which they recorded and self-released a demo tape titled A Slice of Death in November 1987, featuring tracks such as "Victims," "Agonizing Death," and "I Love You... I Hope You Die."^[15] This pre-professional experience honed Webster's skills in composition and performance within the local metal underground.^[14]

Musical Career

Cannibal Corpse

Alex Webster co-founded Cannibal Corpse in late 1988 in Buffalo, New York, drawing from members of local bands Beyond Death and Tirant Sin, including guitarist Jack Owen and drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, with vocalist Chris Barnes and guitarist Bob Rusay completing the original lineup.^[16] Webster himself proposed the band's name, envisioning it as "an undead corpse that eats the flesh of the living."^[17] From the band's inception, Webster established himself as the primary songwriter, focusing on crafting intricate bass lines and guitar riffs that defined their sound.^[13] His contributions were central to their debut album Eaten Back to Life (1990), where he developed key riffs and structural elements, and the follow-up Butchered at Birth (1991), which built on those foundations with even more aggressive compositions.^[5] Throughout the 1990s and beyond, Cannibal Corpse navigated significant lineup changes, including the departure of vocalist Chris Barnes in 1995—replaced by George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher—and the exit of several guitarists such as Bob Rusay in 1993 and Jack Owen in 2004, while Webster and Mazurkiewicz remained constant.^[4] The band faced international controversies, notably a 1993 ban in Germany prohibiting the sale and display of their first three albums due to graphic cover art and lyrics, alongside similar restrictions in Australia and other countries.^[18] Despite these challenges, Cannibal Corpse achieved sustained commercial success, surpassing two million records sold worldwide by 2015 through consistent touring and album releases on Metal Blade Records.^[19] In recent years, Webster continued his songwriting role on the band's sixteenth studio album Chaos Horrific (2023), delivering death metal tracks that maintained the group's signature intensity.^[6] As of 2025, he participated in Cannibal Corpse's headlining North American tour, which ran from September to October across over two dozen cities, supporting the ongoing promotion of their catalog.^[7]

Side Projects

In addition to his primary role in Cannibal Corpse, Alex Webster has pursued several side projects that showcase his versatility in progressive and technical metal styles. One of his earliest endeavors outside the band was his brief involvement with Alas, a progressive metal outfit formed in 1995 in Tampa, Florida, by guitarist Erik Rutan. Webster contributed bass during the band's initial phase from 1995 to 1996, appearing on their debut demo Engulfed in Grief (1996), which featured operatic elements and emotional themes centered on sorrow and purity.^[20]^[21] Webster's most prominent side project is Blotted Science, an instrumental progressive metal supergroup he co-founded in 2005 alongside guitarist Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower and Spastic Ink fame. The project emphasizes intricate compositions and technical prowess, diverging from the vocal-driven death metal of Cannibal Corpse by focusing on atmospheric and experimental structures without lyrics. Drummer Charlie Zeleny performed drums on their debut album, with Hannes Grossmann of Obscura joining in 2011 to solidify the core lineup. Their debut album, The Machinations of Dementia, was released in September 2007 via Jarzombek's Eclectic Electric label, comprising nine tracks that blend jazz fusion influences with heavy riffing and odd time signatures.^[22]^[23] In 2013, Webster joined Conquering Dystopia, an instrumental progressive death metal supergroup initiated by guitarists Keith Merrow and Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore, Arch Enemy). This collaboration highlights Webster's ability to integrate his precise bass lines into expansive, cinematic soundscapes, with drummer Alex Rüdinger (ex-The Faceless) rounding out the initial recording lineup. The band's self-titled debut album arrived in 2014 through Century Media Records, featuring five extended tracks that explore dystopian themes through aggressive yet melodic instrumentation. As of 2019, the group announced work on a follow-up album, but no release had materialized by November 2025, amid ongoing creative developments.^[24]^[25] Beyond full band commitments, Webster has made select guest appearances, notably providing bass for Hate Eternal's 2008 album Fury & Flames, produced by frontman Erik Rutan, where his contributions supported the band's ferocious death metal sound on tracks like "Ghosts of Fall" and "Hallowed Apparition."^[2]

Artistry and Influences

Bass Technique

Alex Webster's bass technique is renowned for its emphasis on speed and precision, particularly through his signature three-finger right-hand plucking method, which cycles through the index, middle, and ring fingers in a repeating pattern to achieve rapid 16th-note passages without a pick. This approach, developed in the late 1980s and inspired by fellow bassist Steve DiGiorgio, allows for even articulation and endurance during the intricate, riff-heavy demands of death metal, often doubling guitar lines an octave lower while maintaining a driving, aggressive tone.^[13]^[26] Complementing this, Webster incorporates multi-finger tapping techniques, enabled by his preference for 24-fret basses, to layer harmonic complexity and melodic fills into otherwise rhythmically dense compositions. His left-hand fretting prioritizes economy of motion, adhering to a one-finger-per-fret system to navigate chromatic and modal scales efficiently, such as whole-tone patterns, ensuring seamless execution of sudden shifts and polyrhythmic elements. Throughout his career with Cannibal Corpse, Webster has primarily composed riffs and bass lines on the bass guitar, resulting in bass-forward arrangements that elevate the instrument's role in the mix; however, beginning with the 2021 album Violence Unimagined, he shifted to occasionally writing on guitar to diversify his melodic and picking approaches, as heard in tracks like "Necrogenic Resurrection" from Violence Unimagined.^[27]^[28]^[26] In side projects such as Blotted Science, Webster integrates progressive influences, employing odd time signatures like 5/8 and 7/8 alongside compound rhythms to create disorienting yet cohesive structures that challenge conventional metal tempos. This versatility underscores his reputation for advanced technical proficiency, as outlined in his instructional book Extreme Metal Bass, where he provides exercises for building finger strength and riff construction, solidifying his status as a pioneer who has defined standards for bass performance in extreme metal genres.^[29]^[30]^[13]

Key Influences

Alex Webster began developing his musical style in 1984, when he started playing bass and was heavily influenced by heavy metal bands such as Accept, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slayer.^[5] These groups formed the foundation of his early appreciation for metal, with Webster citing Accept, Iron Maiden, early Metallica, early Slayer, and Kreator among his favorite metal acts.^[31] Webster's approach to bass guitar drew specific inspiration from pioneering players known for their technical innovation and melodic contributions. He has named Billy Sheehan for his tapping techniques, Geddy Lee of Rush for versatile musicianship, Steve Harris of Iron Maiden for galloping rhythms and songwriting, Cliff Burton of Metallica for tone and creativity, and Steve DiGiorgio of Sadus for advanced fingerstyle speed and chordal work.^[26] DiGiorgio's influence was particularly profound in Webster's adoption of rapid plucking and complex phrasing, as seen in his listening to DiGiorgio's performances on Sadus' debut album Illusions (1988) and Autopsy's Severed Survival (1989), where DiGiorgio contributed bass.^[32]^[13] Within the death metal genre, Webster looked to vocalists and bassists who blended aggression with technical flair. He has expressed admiration for David Vincent's bass work on Morbid Angel's early albums, particularly the bass solo in "Suffocation" from Altars of Madness (1989), which highlighted Vincent's rhythmic drive and soloing ability.^[5] Later in his career, Webster expanded his musical horizons beyond rock and metal, exploring classical compositions, including works by Beethoven.^[33] He also practiced jazz and funk rhythms to enhance his sense of groove and timing, noting that this knowledge subtly influences his metal writing without directly incorporating those genres.^[34]^[35]

Equipment

Bass Guitars

Alex Webster began his professional career using a 1980s Japanese-made Fender Precision Bass, which he played on Cannibal Corpse's debut albums Eaten Back to Life (1990) and Butchered at Birth (1991).^[27] During the early to mid-1990s, he transitioned to Ibanez Soundgear and Saber models for their faster necks and 24-fret design, before adopting the Modulus Quantum 5 in 1996, a five-string bass noted for its stability and carbon fiber reinforcement that suited demanding live settings.^[27] In the post-2000s era, Webster evolved toward custom-oriented instruments, acquiring his first Spector Euro 5 LX in 2003 and using it as his primary recording bass for projects including Blotted Science and Conquering Dystopia, reflecting a shift from vintage Fender reliability to modern, high-output designs tailored for extreme metal.^[27] His current signature instrument is the Spector Euro5 LX Alex Webster edition, a five-string model featuring Seymour Duncan Hammer Smashed Bass humbucking pickups for aggressive midrange bite and a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp powered at 18 volts for enhanced headroom and tonal versatility.^[36] Webster favors active electronics in his basses, such as those in the Modulus and Spector models with EMG or Seymour Duncan systems, to deliver consistent attack and clarity during rapid passages in low tunings like G# on the B string for Cannibal Corpse recordings.^[27]

Amplification and Strings

Alex Webster employs a minimalist amplification setup designed to deliver a gritty yet clean bass tone, emphasizing direct signal paths with minimal processing to preserve the natural attack of his playing. His current touring rig, as of 2025, centers on the Darkglass Microtubes 900 v2 amplifier head paired with two Darkglass DG410NE 4x10 cabinets, providing robust low-end response suitable for low tunings without additional effects pedals.^[37] This configuration evolved from his 1990s and early 2000s reliance on high-wattage heads like the SWR SM-1500 and Aguilar DB751, transitioning to more compact, overdrive-capable units like the Darkglass B3K and B7K for added growl while maintaining simplicity.^[38]^[27] To facilitate switching between his two signature Spector basses tuned to different pitches, Webster incorporates the Radial Engineering Bassbone OD preamp, which allows independent level and EQ adjustments for each instrument before routing directly to the amplifier.^[38]^[27] His EQ preferences favor a scooped midrange with boosted bass and treble frequencies to enhance clarity and punch in dense metal mixes, occasionally applying light overdrive via the Bassbone or Darkglass units for subtle grit without distorting the core tone.^[27] This approach ensures compatibility with his signature basses' active pickups, yielding a bright, articulate sound that cuts through high-gain guitar layers. Webster has exclusively used DR Hi-Beam stainless steel roundwound strings since the late 1990s, selecting fresh sets for every performance to maintain their inherent brightness and cutting edge, particularly in low tunings like G# and A#.^[39]^[37] He favors heavier gauges, such as .045-.130 for G# and .045-.125 for A#, to achieve stable tension and tonal consistency across his minimalist rig.^[37] This choice contributes to the piano-like attack and sustain that define his signature tone in Cannibal Corpse's recordings and live shows.^[27]

Personal Life

Family and Residence

Alex Webster has been married to Alison Webster, a professional photographer specializing in concert and promotional imagery, since the early 2000s.^[40] The couple maintains a childless household, prioritizing their partnership and shared interests amid Webster's demanding tour schedule.^[41] In recent years, Webster and his wife relocated from their longtime base in New York to Oregon, seeking a quieter life in the Pacific Northwest.^[4] This move, undertaken for personal reasons, provides a stable home base that allows Webster to balance the rigors of international touring with domestic stability; he often records bass tracks remotely from his Oregon home studio while the rest of Cannibal Corpse convenes in Florida.^[42] Webster was raised in a Protestant Methodist household, where he was instilled with beliefs in demons and the supernatural during his childhood.^[12] As an adult, however, he identifies as agnostic, viewing religion and supernatural concepts with skepticism shaped by maturity.^[12] This shift has influenced his perspective on the horror-themed lyrics he writes for Cannibal Corpse, emphasizing entertainment over literal endorsement.

Health and Hobbies

Alex Webster maintains a rigorous fitness regimen centered on running and weight training to sustain his physical demands as a death metal bassist well into his fifties. He began running in 2017 and typically covers a minimum of 3.5 miles daily, often immediately after performances while on tour, using apps like Google Maps and Strava to plan routes.^[3] This practice, which he credits with improving mood and cognitive function based on John J. Ratey's book Spark, serves as a foundational element for his overall conditioning.^[3] Weight training, initiated in 1997 after quitting smoking, involves dumbbells and occasional use of a squat rack, while he also incorporates low-impact activities like hiking and mountain biking for enjoyment and maintenance.^[3] Previously, from 1999 to 2004, he practiced Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo off-tour.^[3] Webster emphasizes professional discipline over heavy partying to support his touring schedule, viewing death metal as one of the most physically demanding genres that requires an athlete-like mindset for longevity.^[3] He avoids excessive socializing post-shows, prioritizing rest and exercise instead, a habit he has maintained for years to stay healthy amid constant travel.^[43] This approach has allowed him to perform at a high intensity without burnout, as he noted in 2023 that the band has "many years ahead" despite the challenges of aging in extreme music.^[44] His well-being practices include adopting a vegetarian diet since late 2020, focusing on nutritious home-cooked meals while adapting to tour conditions.^[3] To address a past bout of focal dystonia—a neurological disorder affecting his plucking hand that emerged around 2018—he improved posture, incorporated cardio, and used ergonomic equipment like a 4-inch-wide bass strap and Spector NS basses, ultimately overcoming it and enhancing his playing technique by 2021.^[45] No major health issues have been reported for Webster as of 2025.^[44] Beyond metal, Webster draws inspiration from classical music, citing its inherent heaviness without electric amplification. He has expressed admiration for Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, Beethoven's compositions for their intensity, and Gustav Holst's The Planets suite, particularly "Mars, the Bringer of War," composed in 1911.^[46]

Legacy

Impact on Death Metal

Alex Webster's contributions to death metal are exemplified through his pioneering role in integrating technical bass playing into the genre's high-speed, gore-themed framework with Cannibal Corpse. As a founding member and bassist since the band's inception in 1988, Webster developed a distinctive three-finger picking technique that enabled precise, rapid execution of complex riffs, setting a new standard for bass visibility in an era when the instrument often served a supportive role in extreme metal. This approach, detailed in his instructional book Extreme Metal Bass, emphasized aggressive fingerstyle over pick-based methods, allowing for galloping rhythms and melodic counterpoints that complemented the band's brutal, down-tuned compositions.^[26]^[27]^[47] Webster's style has profoundly influenced subsequent bassists in extreme metal, particularly through Cannibal Corpse's riff-driven compositions that demand intricate, riff-following lines. His precise attack and ability to introduce riffs independently on bass before the full band entry have inspired a generation of players to prioritize technical proficiency and integration with guitar work, elevating the bassist's role in death metal's sonic hierarchy. Bassists in bands like Obscura and Archspire have acknowledged drawing from Webster's methods for maintaining clarity and speed in dense mixes, contributing to the evolution of technical death metal subgenres.^[27]^[48]^[26] Cannibal Corpse, under Webster's foundational influence, played a pivotal role in popularizing death metal globally, achieving mainstream notoriety despite significant controversies surrounding their graphic imagery and lyrics. Albums such as Butchered at Birth (1991) and Tomb of the Mutilated (1992) faced outright bans in countries like Germany and Australia due to depictions of violence, leading to censored releases and restricted sales from the mid-1990s to 2006. Yet, these challenges paradoxically amplified the band's visibility, positioning them as the preeminent American death metal act and introducing the genre to wider audiences through media backlash and cultural references, such as in the film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. As of 2015, their sales had exceeded two million albums worldwide, cementing death metal's underground appeal on a global scale.^[49]^[50]^[51]^[19] The band's enduring relevance underscores Webster's lasting impact, with Cannibal Corpse remaining active for over 35 years as of 2025 and continuing to inspire modern death metal acts through their consistent output of aggressive, memorable material. Their longevity—spanning 16 studio albums and relentless touring—has kept the genre vital, influencing contemporary groups like Lorna Shore and Shadow of Intent in blending technical extremity with accessible brutality. Webster's commitment to evolving within the style, without diluting its core intensity, has ensured Cannibal Corpse's status as a benchmark for death metal's viability in the 21st century.^[52]^[53]^[54]

Recognition and Honors

In 2017, paleontologists described a new genus and species of gigantic Devonian polychaete worm, Websteroprion armstrongi, from fossils discovered in Canada, with the genus name honoring Alex Webster for his influential status in the metal bass community.^[55] The creature, dating back approximately 400 million years, possessed the largest known jaws among polychaete fossils, exceeding one centimeter in length, and was identified as a raptorial feeder akin to modern bobbit worms.^[55] Webster has been frequently profiled and interviewed in prominent metal and bass publications, recognizing his technical prowess and contributions to extreme metal. A 2020 Guitar World feature highlighted his innovative bass techniques and role in Cannibal Corpse's enduring sound.^[26] No Treble has conducted multiple in-depth interviews with him, including discussions on his tone, gear, and approach to death metal songwriting in 2011 and 2014.^[13]^[27] As of 2025, Webster maintains long-standing endorsements with major bass equipment manufacturers, reflecting his professional stature. He has been a signature artist with Spector Bass since 2011, featuring custom models like the Euro5 LX Alex Webster edition equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups and Darkglass preamps tailored to his aggressive style.^[36] Additionally, he is endorsed by DR Strings, using their Hi-Beam stainless steel sets for their clarity and durability in high-gain settings.^[39]

Discography

Cannibal Corpse Albums

Alex Webster has served as the bassist and a primary songwriter for all 16 studio albums released by Cannibal Corpse as of 2025.^[17]^[6] His contributions emphasize intricate finger-style bass lines that lock tightly with the guitars, often incorporating technical riffs and melodic elements within the band's brutal death metal framework.^[56]^[26] The band's debut album, Eaten Back to Life (1990), featured Webster on bass and as a co-writer, establishing the group's signature gore-themed sound and high-speed aggression from its inception.^[57]^[4] On the follow-up Butchered at Birth (1991), Webster's playing contributed to an early evolution in technical precision, with faster tempos and more structured compositions that refined the band's raw energy.^[58] Tomb of the Mutilated (1992) marked a breakthrough, highlighted by Webster's complex bass lines that occasionally diverged from guitar parts to add depth and solos, as heard in tracks like the iconic "Hammer Smashed Face."^[59]^[60] The 1994 album The Bleeding further showcased bass-driven elements, with Webster citing it as a significant advancement in his technical skill and the band's overall musicianship.^[60]^[61] Vile (1996) continued this progression, featuring Webster's aggressive and precise bass work amid the band's adaptation to new vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, including standout tracks like "Dead Human Collection" that highlighted his riffing contributions.) Webster continued his songwriting role across subsequent releases, including Gallery of Suicide (1998), Bloodthirst (1999), Gore Obsessed (2002), and The Wretched Spawn (2004), where his riffs helped maintain the band's evolving brutality amid lineup changes.^[17]^[56] This pattern persisted through later works such as Kill (2006), Evisceration Plague (2009), Torture (2012), A Skeletal Domain (2014), Red Before Black (2017), Violence Unimagined (2021), and the 16th studio album Chaos Horrific (2023), emphasizing memorable, heavy songs with advancing technicality.^[17]^[6]^[4] (Note: Worm Infested (2003) is an EP featuring original tracks and covers, to which Webster contributed bass.)

Blotted Science and Conquering Dystopia Releases

Alex Webster has contributed to side projects outside his primary work with Cannibal Corpse, including instrumental progressive and technical metal efforts that showcase his technical bass prowess through complex compositions and intricate instrumentation. Blotted Science and Conquering Dystopia focus on riff-heavy, atmospheric soundscapes without lyrics or vocals, diverging from the vocal-driven death metal style.^[62]^[63] Blotted Science, an instrumental progressive metal project featuring Webster on bass alongside guitarist Ron Jarzombek and drummer Charlie Zeleny, released its sole album, The Machinations of Dementia, on September 25, 2007, via Ecstatic Peace!. The 16-track record emphasizes frenetic, science-themed instrumental pieces with shifting time signatures and heavy rhythms, including standout tracks like "Laser Lobotomy," which demonstrates Webster's precise, rapid fingerstyle bass lines supporting Jarzombek's intricate leads. Clocking in at approximately 57 minutes, the album blends technical metal with experimental elements, such as the atmospheric buildup in "Synaptic Plasticity" and the aggressive grooves in "Brain Fingerprinting." No further full-length releases from Blotted Science have materialized, though the project remains a testament to Webster's versatility in purely instrumental formats.^[62]^[64]^[65] In 2014, Webster joined forces with guitarists Jeff Loomis and Keith Merrow, plus drummer Alex Rüdinger, for the instrumental technical death metal supergroup Conquering Dystopia. Their self-titled debut album, released digitally on March 10, 2014, via Sumerian Records, features 12 tracks spanning over 52 minutes of progressive, riff-centric material influenced by death and progressive metal. Notable songs include "Kufra at Dusk," for which Webster released a dedicated bass playthrough video highlighting his layered, melodic bass work amid the track's dynamic shifts from brutal chugs to soaring harmonics. Other highlights like "Prelude to Obliteration" and "Inexhaustible Savagery" showcase the band's collaborative songwriting, with Webster's contributions providing a solid, aggressive foundation that complements the dual-guitar interplay. The album was later issued on vinyl in limited editions, including a 2015 pressing.^[66]^[63]^[67] Despite announcements in 2019 that Conquering Dystopia was actively working on a second album—prompted by renewed interest from band members amid their busy schedules—no follow-up has been released as of 2025, with progress stalled due to logistical challenges among the supergroup's members.^[24]^[68] Earlier in his career, Webster provided bass contributions to the symphonic metal band Alas on their 1996 demo Engulfed in Grief, a four-track recording that blended operatic elements with progressive metal structures. Formed as a side project by Erik Rutan, the demo featured Webster's rhythmic support on tracks emphasizing gothic and heavy atmospheres, marking one of his initial forays into non-death metal instrumentation. Additionally, in 1988, Webster played bass on the thrash/death metal demo Yuk Fou by Beyond Death, a pre-Cannibal Corpse band he co-founded with guitarist Jack Owen; the live-recorded six-track effort, captured at the River Rock Cafe in Buffalo, New York, included raw, aggressive songs like "Mouth to Mouth Vomit" that foreshadowed his later technical style.^[2]^[69]^[14]^[70]

References

[1]
https://www.discogs.com/artist/411613-Alex-Webster
[2]
Alex Webster - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives
Apr 9, 2011 · Biography. Webster originally performed bass and vocals in the band Beyond Death with future Cannibal Corpse guitarist Jack Owen.
[3]
Health Awaits: Cannibal Corpse's Alex Webster on Being Run ...
Nov 14, 2022 · Not only has bassist Alex Webster climbed the mountain with his band Cannibal Corpse, he's stayed on top into his 50s, writing, recording, and ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[4]
Alex Webster / “We want the Cannibal Corpse songs to be memorable”
Apr 7, 2021 · MetalTalk: I know in addition to bass duties for Cannibal Corpse, you are a primary songwriter for the band, was this the case on the new album ...
[5]
Interview: Cannibal Corpse's Alex Webster - Invisible Oranges
Nov 5, 2012 · Cannibal Corpse has almost become a synecdoche for American and indeed global death metal. Founding bassist Alex Webster reveals the ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[6]
CANNIBAL CORPSE | Chaos Horrific
Cannibal Corpse 'Chaos Horrific' available September 22nd, 2023. Check out cannibalcorpse.net for new tracks, videos, trailers, special offers, info, ...
[7]
Cannibal Corpse : Interview : 6/18/2009 - CoC
Alex Webster: Me and Jack and our friend Dan, we were out in Akron, which is probably a good forty minute drive from the actual center of Buffalo. We lived out ...
[8]
Cannibal Corpse – “The underground part of our band is the music ...
Mar 28, 2012 · A long time before then, when I was 6, I had tried playing acoustic guitar ... I played guitar when I was 6 years old for about 4 months ...
[9]
Cannibal Corpse Interview - IGN
Jul 29, 2008 · Alex Webster: Well, I started playing bass in 1984 if my memory serves me correctly, and over the next year or so I got to see a lot of the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[10]
Cannibal Corpse's Alex Webster Discusses 'Torture,' Summer ...
Aug 7, 2012 · Cannibal Corpse's Alex Webster Discusses 'Torture,' Summer Slaughter + Religion ... religious upbringing -- Protestant, Methodist ...Missing: family | Show results with:family
[11]
Extreme Metal Bassist: An Interview with Alex Webster - No Treble
Nov 3, 2011 · As a founding member of the iconic band Cannibal Corpse, Webster has spent his career defining what it means to be a metal bassist. His advanced ...
[12]
Beyond Death - Encyclopaedia Metallum - The Metal Archives
Jun 16, 2004 · Beyond Death was Alex Webster and Jack Owen's band before forming Cannibal Corpse alongside Chris Barnes, Paul Mazurkiewicz, and Bob Rusay.Missing: tape | Show results with:tape
[13]
https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/11/03/extreme-metal-bassist-an-interview-with-alex-webster/
[14]
CANNIBAL CORPSE – 1988-2013: 25 Years Of Metal, Part One ...
Tampa, Florida-based death metal outfit Cannibal Corpse formed in December 1988, its members pooled from two Buffalo, New York-based groups, namely Beyond ...
[15]
Cannibal Corpse - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives
Jul 18, 2002 · Country of origin: United States ... Alex Webster came up with the name for the band, describing a Cannibal Corpse as "an undead corpse ...Missing: named | Show results with:named
[16]
The Brutal History of Censorship - Loudwire
Apr 2, 2020 · Cannibal Corpse's music has been banned in Australia and Germany in ... 1993 on 'Chaos A.D.,' discharging hardcore-styled riffs with an ...
[17]
Cannibal Corpse sold how many albums? - Metal Insider
Feb 12, 2015 · Cannibal Corpse have officially sold more than two million records combined. Prior to a recent show in California, Metal Blade Records head ...Missing: total | Show results with:total
[18]
Cannibal Corpse Announces North American Headlining Tour This ...
May 6, 2025 · Cannibal Corpse Announces North American Headlining Tour This Fall ... 9/15/2025 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN 9/17/2025 The Mill ...
[19]
Alas - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives
Jul 19, 2002 · Alas ; Formed in: 1995 ; Genre: Progressive Metal ; Themes: Sorrow, Emotions, Purity ; Last label: Karmageddon Media ; Years active: 1995-?.
[20]
Alas | Discography, Members - Metal Kingdom
Former members. Alex Webster : Bass (1995-1996); TC : Drums (1995-1996); Jason "Tux" Morgan : Guitars (1996-?); Tracey Beant : Vocals (1996-?).
[21]
BLOTTED SCIENCE (CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBSCURA, Etc.) Is ...
“Our last release, 2011's The Animation Of Entomology was scored to bug movies, this time around the concept is viruses. No song titles have been locked up, ...
[22]
The Machinations of Dementia - Blotted Science - The Metal Archives
May 24, 2007 · Blotted Science. Type: Full-length; Release date: September 18th, 2007; Catalog ID: EE2007. Label: Eclectic Electric; Format: CD; Reviews: 6 ...
[23]
CONQUERING DYSTOPIA (ARCH ENEMY, CANNIBAL CORPSE) Is ...
Conquering Dystopia is guitarists Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, ex-Nevermore) and Keith Merrow (Nightmarer), bassist Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse, Blotted Science), ...
[24]
Conquering Dystopia
Home page of Conquering Dystopia, a metal group from USA. Conquering Dystopia is instrumental metal music by Jeff Loomis, Keith Merrow, Alex Webster, ...Missing: join announced 2019 2025
[25]
Alex Webster: to the extreme | Guitar World
Jan 8, 2020 · Alex Webster has pretty much been doing two things: anchoring the seminal death metal band Cannibal Corpse, and pushing himself to wreak technical havoc on the ...
[26]
Profiles in Tone: Alex Webster - No Treble
Mar 6, 2014 · I used that for the first two Cannibal Corpse records, and then I switched to an Ibanez. I wanted something with 24 frets for tapping techniques ...<|separator|>
[27]
Interview: Alex Webster of CANNIBAL CORPSE - Antihero Magazine
Mar 3, 2021 · Alex is a consummate professional, well-spoken, and offers his unique insight into the situation of censorship worldwide and its effect upon the music ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[28]
CD Review: Blotted Science, “The Animations of Entomology”
Oct 24, 2011 · With The Animations of Entomology though you get time signatures that very few human beings could ever recreate, fantastic complex drumming, ...
[29]
Amazon.com: Extreme Metal Bass – Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse
A hands-on guide teaching vital bass guitar techniques and concepts for playing extreme metal genres, with online audio demonstrations and play-along tracks.Missing: childhood age
[30]
A Conversation With CANNIBAL CORPSE's ALEX WEBSTER
Sep 17, 2008 · CANNIBAL CORPSE is a band of the people; well, the death metal people anyway. Since forming in 1987, the unit has always given the fans what ...
[31]
Cannibal Corpse interview - 2010 - Disposable Underground
Oct 27, 2024 · This time Alex Webster, bass master of Cannibal Corpse, answered A.E.'s questions in faraway Norwich, U.K., at a gig at University of East ...
[32]
Cannibal Corpse Family Tree - The Metal
Apr 19, 2021 · AC/DC are the quintessential hard rock band. Alex named them as an early influence. Pat's Jackson profile lists AC/DC one of his influences.
[33]
Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse: Interview - At The Barrier
Apr 8, 2021 · Alex Webster is a part of a truly pioneering band. Cannibal Corpse are about to release their fifteenth studio album entitled Violence ...Missing: broader interests non-<|control11|><|separator|>
[34]
Euro5 LX Alex Webster - Spector Bass
This Euro model is outfitted with Alex's signature Seymour Duncan Hammer Smashed Bass pickups and a Darkglass Tone Capsule running at 18 volts.
[35]
https://atthebarrier.com/2021/04/08/alex-webster-of-cannibal-corpse-interview/
[36]
Alex Webster - Equipboard
$$4.90 deliveryAlex Webster's gear and equipment including the Spector Alex Webster signature 5-strings, Radial Bassbone OD, and Fender Precision Bass.
[37]
ALEX WEBSTER - CANNIBAL CORPSE - DR Strings
Hi-Beam™. Stainless Steel Round Core Bass Strings. Model: MR-45 and MR5-45. Bio. DR-logo-Black.png. Premium Quality Handmade Strings THE DIFFERENCE IS REAL.
[38]
CANNIBAL CORPSE Bassist's Wife Launches Photography Web Site
Jan 3, 2010 · Alison Webster, the wife of CANNIBAL CORPSE bassist Alex Webster, has launched a photography web site featuring concert and promotional ...
[39]
Ladislav - Alex Webster and his wife Alison Alex: "I really ... - Facebook
Jan 3, 2025 · Alex Webster and his wife Alison Alex: "I really enjoy spending time ... Cannibal Corpse. It's really cool." Producer Mark Lewis, who ...
[40]
Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse | Echoes And Dust
Apr 26, 2021 · Gavin Brown caught up with Cannibal Corpse bass player Alex Webster to hear all about Violence Unimagined and its creation and the unorthodox method this album ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[41]
Interview with Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster - V13.net
Nov 18, 2009 · Interview with Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster. I was able to sit down with bassist Alex Webster, a few hours before show time to ...Missing: religion Protestant Methodist<|control11|><|separator|>
[42]
ALEX WEBSTER On CANNIBAL CORPSE's Longevity - Blabbermouth
Sep 25, 2023 · CANNIBAL CORPSE bassist Alex Webster spoke about the physical challenges that go along with playing high-intensity death metal, especially for musicians who ...Missing: fitness workouts
[43]
How Cannibal Corpse Bassist Overcame Neurological Disorder
Jul 26, 2021 · In a new interview with Bass Player magazine, he opened up about a neurological disorder that impacted his plucking hand, how he overcame it and how it made ...
[44]
Alex Webster on the Music Outside Rock and Metal That Inspires Him
Aug 8, 2024 · Alex Webster on the Music Outside Rock and Metal That Inspires Him. 128 views · 1 year ago #robbarrett #cannibalcorpseofficial #chrisbarnesMissing: broader non-
[45]
Extreme Metal Bass by Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse.
Apr 8, 2013 · It is an interesting approach if you think about it using Death Metal riffs and Altered Dominant harmony. Makes a nice quirky combination.Extreme Metal Bass: Helpful material - TalkBass.comAlex Webster thinks bass is easier than guitar? - TalkBass.comMore results from www.talkbass.comMissing: standards | Show results with:standards
[46]
Alex Webster | The Range Planet - ProBoards
Nov 3, 2023 · Webster is, in many respects, the signature bassist of death metal. He's been a member of Cannibal Corpse for the entirety of their 35 year long ...
[47]
Cannibal Corpse - "The Bleeding" - Decibel Magazine
Mar 28, 2017 · The controversy was both a blessing and an albatross; a blessing in the sense that Cannibal Corpse became perhaps the best known of the emerging ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[48]
10 Of The Biggest Metal Album Cover Controversies
From being name-dropped by U.S. presidential candidates, to censored album covers in Australia, to outright bans of their music in Germany, Cannibal Corpse are ...
[49]
Death becomes them - Alton Telegraph
Jun 24, 2014 · Cannibal Corpse never counted on radio play handily managing without it to become the No. 1 death metal band in the United States in the early ...
[50]
CANNIBAL CORPSE's ALEX WEBSTER: 'Death Metal Never ...
Apr 4, 2021 · CANNIBAL CORPSE bassist Alex Webster, whose band has been around for more than three decades, spoke to The Metal Meltdown about the state of the modern death ...
[51]
I'm Listening to Death Metal #11: Cannibal Corpse and the ...
Jan 31, 2020 · Alex Webster, a quiet and unassuming virtuoso bassist, would later go on to join Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower fame in instrumental technical ...
[52]
Interview: Cannibal Corpse - The Pop Break
Sep 5, 2014 · I strongly standby my next statement; Cannibal Corpse's influence on metal ranks right up there with the likes of Metallica or Iron Maiden. The ...
[53]
Earth's oldest 'Bobbit worm' – gigantism in a Devonian eunicidan ...
Feb 21, 2017 · Websteroprion armstrongi was a raptorial feeder and possessed the largest jaws recorded in polychaetes from the fossil record, with maxillae reaching over one ...
[54]
Q&A with Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse | Denver Westword
Nov 18, 2009 · Forming in Buffalo, New York in 1988, Cannibal Corpse quickly came to prominence due to its decidedly brutal music and horrifically detailed ...
[55]
Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back To Life
### Credits for Alex Webster on "Eaten Back to Life"
[56]
https://www.westword.com/music/qanda-with-alex-webster-of-cannibal-corpse-5716319/
[57]
Tomb of the Mutilated - Review by grimwinter13 - The Metal Archives
Oct 20, 2017 · Cannibal Corpse > Tomb of the Mutilated > Reviews > grimwinter13 ... Alex Webster separates himself from the guitarists by writing basslines ...
[58]
Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster on his 5 best bass albums
May 24, 2022 · Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster on his 5 best bass albums · 1. Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined (2021) · 2. Cannibal Corpse – Eaten Back ...
[59]
Cannibal Corpse: The bleeding - GLOBAL DOMINATION | IS DEAD
Sep 19, 2015 · Ever. While his work on “The bleeding” isn't quite at the standard of the inhuman grunts and growls he somehow produced on “Butchered at birth” ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[60]
Blotted Science: The Machinations of Dementia
$$8.99 Free deliveryThe Machinations of Dementia by Blotted Science, released 25 September 2007 1. Synaptic Plasticity 2. Laser Lobotomy 3. Brain Fingerprinting 4.Missing: details | Show results with:details
[61]
Conquering Dystopia - Keith Merrow
2014. Collaborative album consisting of Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore) on lead guitar, Keith Merrow on rhythm guitar, Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) on bass, and ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[62]
BLOTTED SCIENCE - The Machinations Of Dementia - Prog Archives
Studio Album, released in 2007. Songs / Tracks Listing. 1. Synaptic Plasticity (6:03) 2. Laser Lobotomy (5:19) 3. Brain Fingerprinting (3:34)
[63]
https://keithmerrow.com/conquering-dystopia
[64]
https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=16580
[65]
Conquering Dystopia - Review by Metal4Blood - The Metal Archives
They teamed up with the monster Alex Webster and behemoth Alex Rudinger to create this album, and upon first listen it blew me away. Let's start by talking ...Missing: join 2013 announced 2019
[66]
https://www.discogs.com/master/720172-Conquering_Dystopia-Conquering_Dystopia
[67]
https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Conquering_Dystopia/Conquering_Dystopia/404516/Metal4Blood/306547
[68]
Yuk Fou by Beyond Death (EP, Death Metal): Reviews, Ratings ...
This was the last Beyond Death release to feature bassist Alex Webster and guitarist Jack Owen before they left and formed Cannibal Corpse along with three ...