Erik Rutan is one of extreme metal's most respected and multi-dimensional forces-renowned not only for his blistering guitar work and songwriting in legendary bands Hate Eternal,, Morbid Angel, and Cannibal Corpse, but also as a prolific producer and founder of Mana Recording Studios, where he's helped shape the sound of death metal for decades.
Rutan began his career in the late '80s with Ripping Corpse, appearing on their influential Dreaming with the Dead (1991), then playing as a touring guitarist with Morbid Angel for Covenant (1993). Rutan then joined permanently to record the classic albums Domination (1995), Entangled In Chaos (1996), and Gateways To Annihilation (2000). In 1997, he formed Hate Eternal, taking on guitar, vocals, and full creative control. In 2002, Rutan left Morbid Angel to focus on Hate Eternal and Mana Recording Studios. The band's discography-Conquering the Throne, King of All Kings, I, Monarch, The Perilous Fight, Fury & Flames, Phoenix Amongst the Ashes, Infernus, and Upon Desolate Sands-has cemented Rutan's reputation as a technical innovator and one of death metal's most uncompromising architects.
Equally revered behind the console, Rutan opened his recording studio in 1999 and founded Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, FL. The studio has since become a premiere destination for extreme music, hosting sessions for a who's who of death metal as well as other styles of music. His production, engineering and mixing credits include a staggering list of landmark albums: Cannibal Corpse (Kill, Evisceration Plague, Torture, Red Before Black, Violence Unimagined, Chaos Horrific), Goatwhore (A Haunting Curse, Carving Out the Eyes of God, Blood for the Master, Constricting Rage of the Merciless), Krisiun (Conquerors of Armageddon, Forged In Fury), Soilent Green (Confrontation, Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction), Madball (Empire, Rebellion), Into The Moat (The Design, The Campaign) Tombs (Savage Gold, The Grand Annihilation) Agnostic Front, The Mountain Goats, Vital Remains, Belphegor, Through the Eyes of the Dead, Rivers of Nihil, Ether Coven, Aeon, Ephel Duath, Nile, Black Fast, Lizzy Borden as well as the entire Hate Eternal catalog among many others.
Known for his precision and intensity in the studio, Rutan is a demanding producer with an ear for both brutality and nuance. "I work musicians very hard, because I want them to exceed their own expectations," he said in an interview with Mix Magazine. "I believe we all need to be pushed to achieve our greatest moments, whether internally or by an outside source," he says. "I think most people don't even realize their own potential, and when pushed in a positive and reassuring and reaffirming fashion, you can capture absolute brilliance." Rutan continued… "I really believe in trying to maintain and preserve the integrity of the performances at that moment in time." Krisiun drummer Max Kolesne enthused, "Erik… was able to get the best out of each one of us… he did a really great job". His sonic approach balances organic energy with razor-sharp clarity, making his productions and mixes both punishing and refined. Goatwhore Vocalist Sammy Duet and bassist Ben Falgoust noted: "He makes us work really, really, really hard. Erik just knows how to capture our sound, he becomes a fifth member of the band".
In 2019, after years of collaboration, Rutan started to tour with Cannibal Corpse as touring guitarist and then in 2021 joined as a full-time guitarist, making his recording debut as a member with Violence Unimagined and also Chaos Horrific. He contributed rhythm and lead guitar as well as songwriting on 3 tracks for each album, while also producing, engineering and mixing the albums-earning widespread acclaim. "Erik's influence and musical knowledge have elevated everything around us," bassist Alex Webster said. "He brings a work ethic and vision that's unmatched."
Despite his commitments to Cannibal Corpse, Rutan remains devoted to Hate Eternal and Mana Recording Studios. "Hate Eternal is my life's work," he told Premier Guitar. "And producing-that's where I channel a different part of my creativity. I want to help bands create the best version of themselves." With a legacy that spans multiple roles and generations, Rutan continues to define and redefine the sound of extreme metal-both onstage and behind the scenes in the studio.
