The self-described "cobracore" metal band Dim Mak formed in the late '90s from the ashes of death metal cult favorites Ripping Corpse, a band in which three of Dim Mak's members -- vocalist Scott Ruth, guitarist Shaune Kelley, and drummer Brandon Thomas -- played (the other member is bassist Dennis Carrol). Not surprisingly, Dim Mak's music is largely a continuation of Ripping Corpse's, but with a slightly more hardcore-ish feel to the vocals and, lyrically, an overriding martial arts theme that also includes frequent references to snakes. (The name "Dim Mak" itself comes from a form of Chinese martial arts.) Their first album, Enter the Dragon, came out in 1999, but since it was released on a Singapore-based label (Dies Irae Productions) without very good distribution, it was not widely heard in the U.S. Their second CD, Intercepting Fist, came out on the more widely distributed Olympic label in 2002. Produced by Morbid Angel guitarist (and former Ripping Corpse member) Erik Rutan, it gave more listeners a chance to hear their angry, ultra-heavy, and musically imaginative variation on death metal. Knives of Ice arrived in April 2006 on the Willowtip label. ~ William York