In the 1980 Sarcofagus went back to the studio to record their second album "Envoy Of Death".

The line up was now:
Kimmo Kuusniemi, Guitars
Esa Kotilainen, Keyboards
Juha Kiminki, Bass
Jukka Homi, Vocals
Ari Pekka Roitto, Drums
Ronnie Österberg, Drums

The recording of this album encountered several big setbacks. The already recorded drum tracks were destroyed by faulty tape material.

These tracks had already created friction in the band as the band's drummer had tiny timing problems...

Producers Esa and Kimmo decided that something needed to be done with the new recordings. Esa arranged the drums and closely supervised the new drum sessions. In the end this mishap worked in favour for the band.
These problems led Kimmo to decide to use talented session drummer Ronnie Österberg in the most important and challenging Dark Progressive Metal track: "Black Contract". This was unfortunately Ronnie’s last recording due to his untimely death.

The next big problem was that all the tracks had already been recorded but there was still no replacement for the singer Hannu who was serving compulsory military service. Esa and Kimmo had numerous test sessions with singers but finding a good heavy metal singer at that time was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Very young and inexperienced Jukka Homi was chosen as Esa and Kimmo thought they could try to get the most out of him. This was a compromise as Jukka’s voice lacked the energy and depth the band was looking for.

The album received plenty of positive media coverage.

The band was gigging extensively and playing to full houses.

The band's dark metal looks, stage performance, spiced up with pyrotechnics, pyramids, flame throwing guitars and dark mythical lyrics were raising some controversy.

Stories in magazines suggested that death was following the band as three band members had an unnatural death. Also a mother of a young fan was accusing the band of driving her daughter to suicide.
This type of writing didn't stop people traveling long distances to see the explosive live performance by this now notorious band.

In 1981 Sarcofagus stopped gigging. Maintaining the pyrotechnics and extravagant stage show was too expensive, even when the band was paid relatively well for appearances.
Soon after this Sarcofagus was locked in a “Sarcophagus”. Kimmo felt that the uneven band was hampering the quality of his music and that Envoy Of Death was seriously affected by compromises.