The recording studio responsible for the development of Death Metal is honored

Temple Terrace, Fla. – If you think about music history in America, cities like Chicago, Detroit and Nashville can come to mind. But Tampa Bay has its own piece of music history in the temple terrace.

Music fans around the world know the original Morrisound recording studio as the birthplace of Death Metal. This month they were honored with a badge by the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council.
“I will say that this is the only time that I wrote a marker with the word” death “so often, because the marker, especially for Morrisound's work in the extreme metal or the metal industry from Morrisound, applies,” said Rodney Kite-Powell with the Tampa Bay History Center.

Kite-Powell said that the hundreds of historical markers in the entire district is the only one who is dedicated to a recording studio.

“We still get fans from all over the world who see the studio based on the records we produced in the 80s and 90s,” said Tom Morris.

Tom and his brother Jim admit that when they opened the studio in 1981, they really didn't know what they were doing, but they dedicated it to.

“We opened it because we were only music fans, musicians and engineers, and the studio seemed to be the best combination of all these things,” said Jim Morris. “The idea that we would be recognized 44 years later is absurd and really cool.”

According to Soundscan, 20 of the 25 best Death Metal albums of all time were recorded at Morrisound.

Fans, musicians and past and current studios gathered at the inauguration ceremony.

“Today I saw an emotional roller coaster ride here and how our family members come back and remember it, and it means something for them. That means a lot for both of us,” said Jim.

Musicians like Ron Galletti by Nasty Savage and Jon Oliva of Sava Day said that they cannot talk about Death Metal without talking about Morrisound.

“If it said the Morrissound recording on her album, the Metal community really meant a lot,” said Galletti.

“These boys were ready to keep their necks out and support us. They were very significant to bring the heavy metal stuff to the public,” said Oliva.

“We actually took care of how their music sounded, and I think they were written off – studios who just thought it was not good music and we didn't want to take in – and we took care of it,” said Tom.

The Morrisound recording moved to a new place in sulfur springs in 2014. However, the old studio continues to live, which is now operated by the Trans -Siberian orchestra. Thanks to this historical marker, Death Metal fans said that it will always have its place in music history and in the history of Tampa Bay.

“People will come here to take pictures in front of this badge because they have done and on the journey on which they took part,” said music insider Dan Johnson, who worked with Avatar.

“I hope my grandchildren keep this polished, this sign,” joked Jim.