Renowned "Audio Horror" proto-Death Metal act, Wellsville, Ohio's NECROPHAGIA bowed in with the November 1984 four song demo cassette 'Rise From The Crypt'. The group, singer Killjoy (a.k.a. Frank Pucci), guitarist Larry Madison, bass player Bill James and drummer Joe Blazer, had been formulated a year earlier, claiming joint rights to birthing the Death Metal formula along with their close allies and enthusiastic tape trading partners, Florida's DEATH. 'Rise From The Crypt' was a crudely hacked out rehearsal recording but perfectly captured the group's ferocity and no holds barred approach to horror worship, a trait that would come to exemplify the band.

Follow ups included 1985's 'Autopsy On The Living Dead' and a brace of 1986 demo 'Death Is Fun' and 'Power Through Darkness'. The 'Nightmare Continues' demo, cut at Peppermint Studios, arrived in 1987. That same year the group signed to Californian label New Renaissance Records, operated by HELLION singer Ann Boleyn, and 'Season Of The Dead' followed swiftly. The record, a truly sinister collection of malevolent curses uttered by Killjoy atop laboured, drudging Metal satiated in reverb, pulled in exemplary reviews. However, NECROPHAGIA split in 1989, torn by directional conflicts of opinion and not fully realising the sizable impact their limited output had made upon the extreme Metal scene. As the years passed, this legacy only grew in weight and importance.

Vocalist KILLJOY formed a new band that bore his name re-signing a deal with New Renaissance for the 'Compelled By Fear' album. Killjoy reformed the band in the late 90's with a fresh line-up of bass player Dustin Havnen, drummer Wayne Fabra and guitarist Anton Crowley. This formation re-debuted with 'Holocausto De La Morte' for Red Stream Records. News rapidly spread throughout the Metal world that 'Anton Crowley' was none other than PANTERA vocalist Phil Anselmo whilst guesting on the track 'The Cross Burns Black' would be the equally notorious Maniac of MAYHEM. Maintaining the momentum, an EP entitled 'Black Blood Vomitorium' surfaced in February 2000. This release proudly sported the proclamation “Banned in 31 countries!” Other product emerging that year included the unofficial 'Ready For Death' opus and the officially endorsed 'Legacy Of Horror, Gore And Sickness' compilation of 80s era demos.

Killjoy also made time for other endeavours, including his involvement in the 2000 all star Black Metal project EIBON. With a solitary track on the 'Moonfog 2000' compilation album EIBON consisted of Killjoy, MAYHEM's Maniac, SATYRICON's Satyr Wongraven, DARKTHRONE's Fenriz and PANTERA's Phil Anselmo.

The same year found Killjoy fronting VIKING CROWN (with 'Crowley' again) and yet another extreme Metal banding of well known names THE RAVENOUS. Included in the latter project was S.O.D. bassist Dan Lilker and AUTOPSY and ABSCESS guitarist Chris Reifert.

A further Anselmo / Killjoy union would be declared in November 2001, ENOCH boasting the inclusion of Mirai Kawashima from cult Japanese Black Metal band SIGH. As it transpired though, Anselmo never participated.

In mid 2002 NECROPHAGIA announced a complete overhaul of the band line up that saw Phil Anselmo no longer involved. The band now cited a roll call of Killjoy, drummer Wayne Fabra, former IMMORTAL bassist Iscariah, GORELORD and WURDULAK man Frediablo on guitars, Fug of WURDULAK on guitars and Mirai Kawashima of SIGH, CUTTHROAT and ENOCH handling keyboards. The band planned a new album, 'The Divine Art Of Torture', for release through the Season Of Mist label. By August it would be revealed that DAEMONIA's Titta Tani, also lead vocalist for Prog Metal band DGM, had taken the drumming role. NECROPHAGIA at this juncture were crediting themselves as Killjoy "Black blood vomiting and corpse shrieks", Frediablo "Morguefiend masturbator of Hellstrings, Fug "Nekromantic six string suicide", Iscariah "Desecrator of goat's blood and cloven hooves", Mirai "Gran inquisitor of pain, torture and hauntings" and Titta Tani "Tombstones and witchfyre".

Killjoy's stamina for band projects was further tested with the introduction in the summer of 2002 of Black Metal band HELL PIG, a collaboration with SLIPKNOT drummer and MURDERDOLLS guitarist Joey Jordison and WATCHTOWER and DANGEROUS TOYS singer Jason McMaster. Also mooted was a collaboration billed as AMICUSS involving Phil Anselmo, Killjoy, Joey Jordison and AMEN's Casey Chaos.

The 2003 NECROPHAGIA 7" single 'Kindred Of A Dying Kind', limited to 1000 copies, gave fans a worthy collectable item as the A side was an unreleased track dating to 1998 whilst Japanese act SIGH covered NECROPHAGIA's own 'Young Burial'. Iscariah would also be active as bassist for AMOK, the Grind-Thrash venture fronted by AETERNUS and TAAKE vocalist / guitarist Radek (a.k.a. 'Larva') and also working alongside ex-SKYCLAD singer Martin Walkyier in THE CLAN DESTINED.

NECROPHAGIA readied a new studio album 'Harvest Ritual Vol 1: Penance' for 2004 issue. The 'Goblins Be Thine' EP was also released in 2004 through Red Stream. Two DVDs would be in the works too, 'Nightmare Scenarios' and 'NecroTorture/Sickcess', the latter a combination of a live performance filmed in Valencia, Spain with a "gore filled road movie' directed by directed by Fred Vogel and Killjoy.

A further project of guitarist Frediablo also emerged, initially billed as SEVEN GATES OF HELL, but then switched to CHAMBER OF STRENGTH. Recording at Godfed Studios in Norway this solo venture would be self described as "an intense hybrid of Death, Hardcore and modern Metal". In August, Killjoy joined up with the Danish ambient band FORLIS as the group's new vocalist. Meantime, Frediablo's Black Metal project HEMNUR published the 'Ravnsvart' demo in October, also crafting a debut album 'Untamed Norwegian Black Metal' for early 2005 issue through Baphomet Records. The guitarist also readied a third GORELORD album, 'Norwegian Chainsaw Massacre', due in May 2005 via Coffin Records.

As the year closed it was announced NECROPHAGIA had completed the recording of new record 'Harvest Ritual Vol. 1' for the Season of Mist label. The track 'Stitch Her Further' would be co-written by SLIPKNOT's Joey Jordison, who also contributed guest vocals. The summer of 2005 witnessed the first NECROPHAGIA US tour in many years, the band heading up a billing supported by ENGORGE, TYPHUS and SUMERIA. These shows included appearances at the 'Return Of Darkness And Evil' and 'Milwaukee Metal Fest' events. That August, Frediablo relinquished his associations with NECROPHAGIA, GORELORD, WURDULAK and CHAMBER OF STRENGTH to prioritise GRIMFIST. Predictably, NECROPHAGIA returned to the fore once again, issuing a limited edition live album 'Slit Wrists & Casket Rot' before touting the 'Deathtrip 69' album in September. The group further announced an EP release billed 'Satan's Skin'.

NECROPHAGIA announced the addition of DIABOLOS and ex-NOKTURNE guitarist Undead Torment in July 2006.