Dying Fetus
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Dying Fetus is an American death metal band from Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, formed in 1991. Various lineup 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 young and was intended to be offensive. To date, Dying Fetus has released nine studio albums.
History
Beginnings (1991–1996)
Template:Unreferencedsection 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)
Template:Unreferencedsection Relying on self-promotion, the band toured 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 spring 1997, Erik Sayenga left the band, and during a short Texas tour in May 1997, drummer Kevin Talley was located and subsequently joined full-time by 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 modest promotion in the death metal underground by releasing the album in Europe (while the band released it on their own label 'Blunt Force Records' in North America). Subsequently, they rose to prominence with notable live performances, such as appearances at Milwaukee metalfest (1998-2000) and tours in the US and Canada in 1998 (with Deeds of Flesh) and in Europe (with Deranged). 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 again released on their own Blunt Force Records label imprint.
Relapse Records and new lineup (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 DecibelTemplate:'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,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> 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".
Lineup changes, return to form (2003–present)
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 vehicle that led to exposure of the band was further support from 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and singer Vince Matthews went on to form Criminal Element.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The newest drummer for the band is Trey Williams, from the local Baltimore band Severed Head.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Mike Kimball also left the band and they've remained a trio since.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Devourment was intended to be on the bill to play the tour, but dropped off a month beforehand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was expected to be released in the summer of 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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 Attorneys at Law.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2019, the band's music was featured on the South Park episode "Band in China".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Musical style and legacy
Dying Fetus has been described as death metal,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AllMusicBiography">Template:Cite web</ref> grindcore,<ref name="AllMusicBiography" /> brutal death metal,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and technical death metal,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> incorporating elements of each into their musical style. Their sound is noted for its "vicious" blast beats as well as the guttural vocal style of frontman John Gallagher.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2021, Mike Rampton of Kerrang named Dying Fetus the second "most offensive band name of all time." He wrote: "Dying Fetus formed when still in high school, which explains the name – they were just trying to be as offensive as they could."<ref name=":0" />
Members
Current members
- John Gallagher – guitars, vocals (1991–present), drums (1991–1994)
- Sean Beasley – bass (2001–present), vocals (2004–present)
- Trey Williams – drums (2007–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 (2001–2002; died 2022)
- Vince Matthews – vocals (2001–2004)
- Erik Sayenga – drums (2001–2005)
- Duane Timlin – drums (2006–2007)
- Mike Kimball – guitars (2003–2008)
Live musicians
- Casey Buckler – drums (1995–1996)
- Erik Sayenga – drums (1996–1997)
- John Longstreth – drums (2004)
Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:20 right:90 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1991 till:{{#time: m/d/Y }} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1991 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1992 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
Colors =
id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:album value:black legend:Studio_album
LineData =
layer:back color:album at:08/06/1996 at:07/27/1998 at:10/03/2000 at:05/13/2003 at:03/06/2007 at:09/15/2009 at:06/19/2012 at:06/23/2017 at:09/08/2023
BarData =
bar:Matthews text:"Vince Matthews" bar:Speleos text:"Nick Speleos" bar:Latta text:"Brian Latta" bar:Voyles text:"John Voyles" bar:Greig text:"Bruce Greig" bar:Kimball text:"Mike Kimball" bar:Netherton text:"Jason Netherton" bar:Boyer text:"Derek Boyer" bar:Beasley text:"Sean Beasley" bar:Gallagher text:"John Gallagher" bar:Belton text:"Rob Belton" bar:Talley text:"Kevin Talley" bar:Sayenga text:"Erik Sayenga bar:Timlin text:"Duane Timlin" bar:Williams text:"Trey Williams"
PlotData =
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:Speleos from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1994 color:guitar bar:Speleos from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1994 color:vocals width:3 bar:Gallagher from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1994 color:drums bar:Gallagher from:01/01/1994 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Gallagher from:01/01/1994 till:end color:guitar bar:Matthews from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2005 color:vocals bar:Latta from:01/01/1994 till:10/01/1998 color:guitar bar:Voyles from:10/01/1998 till:01/01/2001 color:guitar bar:Greig from:01/01/2001 till:07/01/2002 color:guitar bar:Kimball from:07/01/2002 till:10/01/2008 color:guitar bar:Netherton from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2001 color:bass bar:Netherton from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/2001 color:vocals width:3 bar:Boyer from:01/01/2001 till:07/01/2001 color:bass bar:Beasley from:07/01/2001 till:end color:bass bar:Beasley from:01/01/2005 till:end color:vocals width:3 bar:Belton from:01/01/1994 till:12/31/1996 color:drums bar:Talley from:01/01/1997 till:12/31/2001 color:drums bar:Sayenga from:01/01/2002 till:12/31/2005 color:drums bar:Timlin from:01/01/2006 till:10/01/2007 color:drums bar:Williams from:10/01/2007 till:end color:drums
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="Billboard 200">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Heat. <ref name="US-Heatseekers-albums">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Indie <ref name="US-Independent-albums">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |
US Hard Rock <ref name="US-Hard Rock-albums">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | |||||||||||
| Purification Through Violence |
|
— | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Killing on Adrenaline |
|
— | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Destroy the Opposition |
|
— | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Stop at Nothing |
|
— | — | — | — | |||||||||
| War of Attrition |
|
— | 25 | — | — | |||||||||
| Descend into Depravity |
|
168 | 4 | 28 | 24 | |||||||||
| Reign Supreme |
|
186 | 3 | 34 | 14 | |||||||||
| Wrong One to Fuck With |
|
180 | 2 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||
| Make Them Beg for Death |
|
— | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | ||||||||||||||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Infatuation with Malevolence |
|
Video albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Killing on Live |
|
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Grotesque Impalement |
|
| History Repeats... |
|
Demos
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Bathe in Entrails |
|
| Infatuation with Malevolence |
|
Music videos
| Title | Year | Directed |
|---|---|---|
| We Are Your Enemy | 1998 | — |
| Kill Your Mother/Rape Your Dog | 1998 | — |
| One Shot, One Kill | 2003 | Kip Bissell<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Homicidal Retribution | 2007 | Frank Huang<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Shepherd's Commandment | 2009 | Kevin Custer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Your Treachery Will Die with You | 2010 | |
| From Womb to Waste | 2012 | Scott Hansen<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Second Skin | 2013 | Jakob Arevarn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Fixated on Devastation | 2017 | Mitch Massie<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> |
| Die With Integrity | 2017 | |
| Panic Amongst the Herd | 2017 | Mount Emult<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> |
| Wrong One to Fuck With | 2018 | James Pesature<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> |
| Compulsion For Cruelty | 2022 | Eric DiCarlo<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Unbridled Fury | 2023 | Eric Richter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Feast of Ashes | 2023 | Blvckbox Studios<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |