Macabre formed in August 1984 and released the "Grim Reality" EP in 1987 and the "Shitlist" EP in 1988 before releasing "Gloom". They are often mentioned among the seminal artists, who influenced the late 80s/early 90s death metal sound. The music style on "Gloom" is not "straight" death metal by any means though. A more fitting description would probably be a melting pot of death metal, thrash metal, grindcore, and children song type melodies (and in the case of "Holidays of Horror" a Christmas type melody). All packed in a gore drenched and often serial killer themed lyrical universe.