Exoto was formed in 1989 and released a live demo called Waiting For The Maggots in the same year. The year after came the And Then You Die demo and was chosen as the demo of the month in Aardschock magazine. This demo reportedly shipped 1,600 copies. The Fifth Season demo followed the year after and again reached the top of the heap in Aardschock. Wim Baelus, a writer for the magazine, took two of the songs and released a 7" on his label Midian Creations called Ashes. In this period Exoto toured with the likes of Morbid Angel, Dead Head, Grave and Annihilator. 1993's Final Discorporation was a new tape featuring live songs and the And Then You Die material. The band signs to the Belgian Tessa Records and releases Carnival Of Souls. The band loses drummer Didier Mertens in a car accident and releases the tape Tribute To Didier in his honour. The band's second album is licensed from Tessa by Black mark and released on both sides of the Atlantic.