Girin Concerts
Erik Rutan

Erik Rutan

electric guitar · guitar · keyboard

b. 1971 in New Jersey

Cannibal Corpse todayHate Eternal today

Erik Rutan (born June 10, 1971) is an American death metal musician and record producer. He is the guitarist and lead vocalist of death metal band Hate Eternal, as well as the lead guitarist for Cannibal Corpse. Rutan has also played with Morbid Angel and Ripping Corpse. In addition, Rutan owns and operates Mana Recording Studios in Florida. Axl Rosenberg of MetalSucks described Rutan's production style as sounding "cold, steely, and uninviting," and called it "the aural equivalent of the desaturated colors of modern torture porn flicks."

Early life

Rutan was born in New Jersey.

Personal life

Rutan engages in yoga stretches and meditation prior to performing live. In 2002, Rutan contracted a foodborne illness from escherichia coli after eating what he believed was a "bad steak" from a truck stop in North Carolina while en route to Portland. In the music history book Raising Hell, he recounted having severe diarrhea and passing out from dehydration. This led to him having to go to the hospital, cancel the show, and be on a special diet for a month. In 2024, Rutan lost 90% of everything he owned due to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which required him to leave a European tour with Cannibal Corpse early. As documented by Granville Guitars, two of his retired custom shop BC Rich Ironbirds, as well as his Gibson Explorer and his Ibanez Universe from his days with Morbid Angel have been restored to playing condition.