Dying Fetus

Dying Fetus is an American death metal band originally from Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States. Formed in 1991, the group is known for their consistently hook-laden song structures, characterized by blast beats, complex riffing, slam riffs and heavy breakdowns. Additionally, their reality-based lyrics characterized by political/modern themes are notable in death metal. Various line-up changes throughout the years have left John Gallagher as the sole remaining original member, as well as the band's driving force. According to Gallagher, the band name was chosen while the members were of adolescent ages and was intended to be offensive. To date, Dying Fetus has released eight studio albums.

Dying Fetus
John Gallagher with Dying Fetus at Party.San 2016.
Background information
OriginGreater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States
Genres
Years active1991–present
LabelsRelapse
Associated actsMisery Index, Suffocation
MembersJohn Gallagher
Sean Beasley
Trey Williams
Past membersJason Netherton
Nick Speleos
Rob Belton
Brian Latta
Casey Buckler
Eric Sayenga
Kevin Talley
Sparky Voyles
Vince Matthews
Duane Timlin
Mike Kimball

History

Beginnings (1991–1996)

Dying Fetus was founded in 1991 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, by John Gallagher (guitar, vocals) and Jason Netherton (bass, vocals). The band began in earnest when the pair met up with guitarist/vocalist Nick Speleos in 1992. It was decided then that Gallagher would fill in on drums until a proper drummer was found. The writing of this period resulted in the 1993 demo Bathe In Entrails In late 1993, the band found drummer Rob Belton, as well as guitarist Brian Latta, who replaced the departing Nick Speleos (which also thrust John Gallagher back into the role of guitarist and vocalist). Together the new four-piece lineup recorded the Infatuation with Malevolence demo in early 1994, later released together with the first demo in 1995 as a compilation on California Indie label Wild Rags Records. Songs included all tracks from both demos as one CD.

In 1996, the band released their first album, Purification through Violence, on short-lived Illinois label Pulverizer Records. The album marked a further refinement of the band's developing sound of death metal riffing, combined with heavy slams, over seven original songs, and one Napalm Death cover, "Scum". Drummer Rob Belton left and the band was joined briefly in 1995 for a year by drummer Casey Buckler, with whom they performed live, yet never recorded with. Casey was asked to leave the band as they agreed he would play drums for a tour they had that year.

Rise to underground prominence (1996–2000)

With no promotion and no label, Dying Fetus toured off and on, sporadically, for 4 years straight starting in summer 1996 with their first full US tour alongside Kataklysm and Monstrosity, with the first appearance of future drummer Erik Sayenga as drummer replacing Casey Buckler. However, by 1997, Erik Sayenga had left the band, and after a short Texas tour in May 1997, drummer Kevin Talley joined full-time in the summer of 1997. At this point, the band caught the attention of German indie label Morbid Records, who signed them early in 1998 for a one-album deal. Almost immediately afterwards, the band released their second album, Killing on Adrenaline.

Morbid Records supplied the band with scant promotion in the death metal underground, and the band subsequently rose to slightly higher prominence, yet the band's live performances still gained them the most attention. However, guitarist Brian Latta left the band in late 1998, ushering in new guitarist “Sparky” Voyles, and in 1999 the band embarked on their first headlining tour of the US, over three weeks dubbed the "Underground Terrorism" tour. The tour was followed shortly thereafter by the Grotesque Impalement EP, which the band released on their own Blunt Force Records label imprint.

Relapse Records, new lineups (2000–2003)

By 2000, Dying Fetus caught the attention of another underground metal label, the indie company Relapse Records, who subsequently signed the band.

Once more returning to Steve Carr's Hit and Run Studios in Maryland (where each previous Dying Fetus album was recorded), Dying Fetus recorded in the spring of 2000 their Relapse debut (and overall third full-length album), Destroy the Opposition. This album featured even stronger political themes, and songwriting that was to highly influence the "deathcore" scene in subsequent years. The album was included in Decibel's Top 100 Albums of the decade list for the 2000s (Decibel Magazine Special Edition, December 2009), as well as to Decibel's "Hall of Fame" (#89, July 2012).

However, following the release of Destroy the Opposition, original member Jason Netherton left the band for personal reasons, and thereafter guitarist Voyles and drummer Talley left the band only months after the album's release (they since went on to form the band Misery Index). Gallagher recruited guitarist Mike Kimball, singer Vince Matthews, bassist/backup vocalist Sean Beasley, and the returning Eric Sayenga on drums.

With the new lineup, the band released their 4th album, Stop at Nothing, in 2003, another album featuring Carr's production and strong political themes. A promotional video was shot for the track “One Shot, One Kill”.

Five members, return to form (2003–present)

Bassist Sean Beasley joined the band in 2001 and has been one half of Dying Fetus' dual vocalist setup since joining.

Dying Fetus toured extensively for Stop at Nothing, and got airplay for the music video for "One Shot, One Kill" on Headbanger's Ball. Another tool that led to exposure of the band was more mainstream metal attention of Relapse Records (with acts such as Mastodon gaining popularity), as well as a full North American tour with GWAR in 2005. However, the Stop at Nothing lineup dissolved slightly in the years that followed as drummer Erik Sayenga parted yet again, and singer Vince Matthews went on to form Criminal Element. However, Dying Fetus came back yet again, bassist Beasley took over on vocals, and drummer Duane Timlin (ex-Divine Empire/Broken Hope) joined the ranks in 2006.

That lineup then recorded War of Attrition, which was released in March 2007. Themes include attacking reality TV, the war on terrorism, racial ignorance, and the flaws in the criminal justice system. Songs include “Homicidal Retribution,” “Raping the System”, and “Parasites of Catastrophe.” Dying Fetus’ second music video was made for “Homicidal Retribution.”

Yet another lineup change occurred on the Dying Fetus front in July 2007: drummer Duane Timlin was fired due to incompatibilities. The newest drummer for the band is Trey Williams, from the local Baltimore band Severed Head. Mike Kimball also left the band and they've remained a trio since.

On September 15, 2009, Dying Fetus released their sixth album, Descend into Depravity on Relapse Records. Three years later, their follow-up to this record Reign Supreme, would be released on June 19, 2012.[1] The band released the first single from the album, "Subjected to a Beating", on April 2, 2012.

Dying Fetus headlined a US tour being supported by Exhumed, Abiotic and Waking the Cadaver.[2] Devourment was intended to be on the bill to play the tour, but dropped off a month beforehand.[3] Rivers of Nihil appeared in select spots of the tour.

On November 4, 2013, after Avenged Sevenfold were announced as a headliner for Download Festival 2014, a fan of the band claimed that other bands were more deserving of a headline spot at the festival, and said "Everyone is going on about that this is good to give new blood a chance, then why not Machine Head, Lamb of God, Testament, Dying Fetus or Carcass? Give them a chance". Due to the smaller size of the band's fanbase, this sparked a mock internet campaign with the hashtag "#WhyNotDyingFetus?" trending worldwide. On November 6, 2013, Andy Copping announced on his Twitter feed that due to the internet campaign, Dying Fetus had been confirmed to be playing at the festival.[4] The band were the first to play the main stage on the Saturday.

By June 2016, Dying Fetus had been working on their eighth studio album,[5] which was expected to be released in the summer of 2017.[6]

By mid-April 2017, both the band and Relapse Records had announced via social media the release of their eighth studio album, entitled Wrong One to Fuck With, which was released on June 23, 2017 and included a promotional video for Gallagher, Williams, Beasley, and Associates - Death Metal Attorney's at Law.[7]

In 2019, the band's music was featured on the South Park episode "Band in China".[8]

Musical style

Dying Fetus has been described as death metal,[9][10][11] grindcore,[11] and technical death metal.[12]

Their sound is noted for its "vicious" blast beats as well as the guttural vocal style of frontman John Gallagher.[13]

Members

Current members

  • John Gallagher – guitars, vocals (1991–present), drums (1991–1994)
  • Sean Beasley – bass, vocals (2001[14]–present)
  • Trey Williams – drums (2007[15]–present)

Former members

  • Nick Speleos – guitars, vocals (1991–1994)
  • Rob Belton – drums (1994–1997)
  • Brian Latta – guitars (1994–1999)
  • Jason Netherton – bass, vocals (1991–2000)
  • Kevin Talley – drums (1997–2001)
  • John "Sparky" Voyles – guitars (1999–2001)
  • Bruce Greig – guitars (2001[14]–2002)
  • Vince Matthews – vocals (2001[14]–2004[16])
  • Erik Sayenga – drums (2001[14]–2005[17])
  • Duane Timlin – drums (2006[18]–2007)
  • Mike Kimball – guitars (2003[19]–2008[20])

Live musicians

  • Casey Buckler – drums (1995–1996)
  • Erik Sayenga – drums (1996–1997)
  • John Longstreth – drums (2004)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[21]
US
Heat.

[22]
US
Indie.

[23]
US
Hard Rock
[24]
1996 Purification Through Violence
  • Released: August 6, 1996 (1996-08-06)
  • Label: Pulverizer
1998 Killing on Adrenaline
  • Released: July 27, 1998 (1998-07-27)
  • Label: Morbid
2000 Destroy the Opposition
  • Released: October 3, 2000 (2000-10-03)
  • Label: Relapse
2003 Stop at Nothing
  • Released: May 13, 2003 (2003-05-13)
  • Label: Relapse
2007 War of Attrition
  • Released: March 6, 2007 (2007-03-06)
  • Label: Relapse
25
2009 Descend into Depravity
  • Released: September 15, 2009 (2009-09-15)
  • Label: Relapse
16842824
2012 Reign Supreme
  • Released: June 19, 2012 (2012-06-19)
  • Label: Relapse
18633414
2017 Wrong One to Fuck With
  • Released: June 23, 2017 (2017-06-23)
  • Label: Relapse
180278
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Infatuation with Malevolence
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Wild Rags
  • Formats: CD, digital download[25]

Video albums

Title Album details
Killing on Live
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Mort Productions
  • Formats: VCD

EPs

Title Album details
Grotesque Impalement
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Blunt Force
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download[26]
History Repeats...
  • Released: July 19, 2011
  • Label: Relapse Records
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download[27]

Demos

Title Album details
Bathe in Entrails
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Cassette
Infatuation with Malevolence
  • Released: May 1994
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Cassette

Music videos

Title Year Directed
We Are Your Enemy 1998
Kill Your Mother/Rape Your Dog 1998
One Shot, One Kill 2003 Kip Bissell
Homicidal Retribution 2007 Frank Huang[28]
Shepherd's Commandment 2009 Kevin Custer[29][30]
Your Treachery Will Die with You 2010
From Womb to Waste 2012 Scott Hansen[31]
Second Skin 2013 Jakob Arevarn[32]
Fixated On Devastation 2017 Mitch Massie[33]
Die With Integrity 2017
Panic Amongst The Herd 2017 Mount Emult[34]
Wrong One To Fuck With 2018 James Pesature[35]

References

  1. "DYING FETUS: New Album Title Revealed". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  2. "Dying Fetus, Exhumed, Devourment, Abiotic tour". Lambgoat.com.
  3. "Devourment Drop Off Dying Fetus and Exhumed Fall Tour - MetalSucks". Metalsucks.net. 26 September 2013.
  4. Andy Copping [@Maverick_AC] (6 November 2013). "The very brilliant & fantastic DYING FETUS @DyingFetusBand have now been confirned for @DownloadFest #DL2014 #whynotdyingfetus" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  5. "DYING FETUS Is Pretty Much Done Recording A New Album". Metalinjection.net. June 6, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  6. "Dying Fetus Finish Tracking New Album, Reveal Vinyl Reissue Plans". Theprp.com. February 22, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  7. "DYING FETUS - Death Metal Lawyers". YouTube. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  8. Pasbani, Robert (3 October 2019). "Watch: Yes, That Was DYING FETUS on South Park Last Night". Metalinjection.net. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  9. Norton, Justin M. (April 4, 2010). "Dying Fetus Interview". About.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  10. Grow, Kory (June 21, 2012). "Dying Fetus, 'Reign Supreme' (Relapse)". Spin. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  11. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Dying Fetus | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  12. Ulibas, Joseph (November 25, 2015). "Dying Fetus will be part of the 2016 Metal Days Festival in Slovenia". AXS. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  13. "Dying Fetus on breaking the mainstream". Loudersound.com.
  14. "Archive News May 22, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. May 22, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  15. "Dying Fetus replaces drummer". Lambgoat.com. July 25, 2007. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  16. "Dying Fetus dismiss vocalist". Lambgoat.com. October 5, 2004. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  17. "Drummer Erik Sayenga Quits Dying Fetus". Blabbermouth.net. May 8, 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  18. "Dying Fetus announces new drummer". Lambgoat.com. May 25, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  19. "Dying Fetus Add Second Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. September 15, 2002. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  20. "Guitarist Mike Kimball Quits Dying Fetus". Blabbermouth.net. March 8, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  21. "Dying Fetus – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  22. "Dying Fetus – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  23. "Dying Fetus – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  24. "Dying Fetus – Chart History: Hard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  25. "Infatuation With Malevolence by Dying Fetus on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 9 March 2004.
  26. "Grotesque Impalement by Dying Fetus". Itunes.apple.com. 1 January 2000.
  27. "History Repeats… by Dying Fetus". Itunes.apple.com. 19 July 2011.
  28. "DYING FETUS - 'Homicidal Retribution'". Bravewords.com.
  29. "DYING FETUS: 'Shepherd's Commandment' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. 16 September 2009.
  30. "DYING FETUS: 'Your Treachery Will Die With You' Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. 6 January 2010.
  31. "DYING FETUS: 'From Womb To Waste' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. 15 June 2012.
  32. "DYING FETUS: 'Second Skin' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. 15 January 2013.
  33. "DYING FETUS - "Fixated On Devastation" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 20 April 2017.
  34. "DYING FETUS - "Panic Amongst The Herd" (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 17 May 2017.
  35. "DYING FETUS - Wrong One To Fuck With (Official Music Video in 4K)". YouTube. 5 February 2018.
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