Cephalic Carnage formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1992 by vocalist Lenzig Leal, former drummer Anthony Chavez, and guitarist Zac Joe. The trio recorded a demo EP titled "Scrape My Lungs" in 1993, but then took a break until 1996, when they recruited drummer John Merryman, guitarist Steve Goldberg and bassist Doug Williams. Merryman also collaborated with Secret Chiefs 3. Soon after the reformation, their second demo EP "Fortuitous Oddity" was released. During 1997, Cephalic Carnage financed its own tour across the United States.