Crushing the competition with brutal sounds.
Like many metal bands, Dying Fetus chose their name simply to be offensive. Unlike many metal bands, this "deathcore" act formed by youths in 1991 has matured to tackle serious sociopolitical topics, be it capitalism, religion, the war on terror or the criminal justice system.
Okay, so maybe you can't understand a word they say, as their growls are often a full octave lower than typical Cookie Monster vocals. Their album art, however, usually paints a clear picture: War of Attrition (2007), for example, depicts a skull and crossbones, made from missiles and the Statue of Liberty's crown, in front of two American flags.
Regardless of the lyrics, Dying Fetus' technical prowess has put them at the forefront of their subgenre. After refining their chops in nearly a decade of demoing, live performance and independent releases, the band emerged as a leading purveyor of deathcore in the early 2000s thanks to a jump to Relapse Records. Destroy the Opposition, their Relapse debut, was full of maniacal speed riffs, lightning-fast blast beats and fills, and insane sweep picking (Ã la Nile). But it also emphasized grooves and breakdowns, with songs averaging four minutes.
The new album, Reign Supreme, has the same lineup as its predecessor, something the band haven't done since 1996. Perhaps due to this consistency, Dying Fetus have had no trouble touring ever since. Their latest North American tour brings them to the High Noon Saloon on Oct. 28, toward the end of a month-long excursion and just in time for Halloween. Then it's only a few weeks off before trekking around Europe for the second time in 2013, a year that has also included shows in Indonesia, Australia and Mexico.
If you're looking for an entire night of brutal metal, you're in luck: The show's six-band lineup also includes Relapse rostermate Exhumed and Metal Blade Records' Abiotic, each with brand-new albums. Get there early to raise the horns and never put them down.
