By Jason Williams
October 15th 2013, The Constellation Room (inside the Observatory), Santa Ana CA: Needing no introduction to death metal fans, Dying Fetus have been bringing their brutal slamming riffs and vocals of the gutteral kind for the past 22 years. Hailing from the depths of Annapolis, Maryland, guitarist, vocalist and founding member John Gallagher has kept the band alive through thick and thin. Even with his entire band leaving in 2001, Gallagher still sought out to make the band better and more brutal. Now, with a consistent lineup of masterful drummer Trey Williams and bassist/vocalist Sean Beasley, fans know what to expect when Dying Fetus rolls into their town. And tonight, at The Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA, moshing and brutality was in store.
I arrived at the Observatory around 7ish, waiting outside to interview Dying Fetus and their label mates of the goreish kind, Exhumed. Just to clear any confusion local folks might have, the Observatory was formerly the Galaxy Theater. With the new ownership, there are now two venues inside. The Observatory, which holds a large amount, and the Constellation Room, the smaller of the two. Unfortunately, the amount of people showing up for Dying Fetus could have easily taken place in the Observatory but this show was booked for the Constellation Room. Overbooking, I’ve been told, has been a problem lately at The Observatory. I can’t say anything bad about the place because nearly half of the shows I’ve attended in my life have been here. Hopefully they can book the right bands for the right rooms in the future.
9:30 PM rolled by, and Waking the Cadaver took the stage. Playing a form of brutal gore and somewhat “Slamming Gore Groove” (as the band describes themselves.), many fans were already packing inside, curious to see what they brought. I saw footage of them a long time ago on a 2001 ‘Fuck the Commerce’ festival tape that had 2 or 3 songs from various bands on that bill. Waking the Cadaver played a more straight Goregrind style. Although the vocals were very squealish, they were well done and the crowd seemed to enjoy them. I wasn’t exactly sure if they actually enjoyed the band’s actual material (I doubt many people knew how long they’ve been around for) or just the chugs and grooves a majority of them enjoy anyway. Nevertheless, they were average for me. Not bad by any means, but didn’t exceed my expectations.
Looking at the shirts all around, I could tell there were plenty of Exhumed fans foaming at the mouth, waiting for them to take the stage. Playing for over 20 years, Exhumed have certainly brought back their goregrinding style for all to enjoy. Over the past few years, they’ve taken the stage with Suffocation, Napalm Death, Dying Fetus and Carcass. The latter were two incredible sold-out shows at the Troubadour. Guitarist/vocalist Matt Harvey has defied all expecations and has let everyone know Exhumed is a wrecking ball on stage. By 10:40 or so, the sample played and the crowd were going completely ape. Chants of Exhumed already started and when “Sickened” off their new album Necrocracy opened the set, moshing and crowd surfing absolutely decimated the place. I was in a state of shock to see all of the flying bodies and mosh pit come to life as such. The band was loving the crowd reactions and you can tell how happy they were to be playing in Southern California. Matt Harvey told us we were the loudest and rowdiest crowd of the tour so far and the audience roared back with even further friendly violence. “In the Name of Gore” might be one of the most brutal songs I’ve seen live in a long time. At least 30 crowd surfs took place in that one song. The sound, the vibe, the speed and intensity of Exhumed held no bounds and decimated the fans into an academy of moshing and headbanging.
After “No Guts, No Glory”, lead guitarist Bud Burke played a frantic guitar solo and fell to the ground. Their ‘mascot’, dressed as a murderous surgeon, attempted to ‘revive’ him using a defibrillator. After 3 unsucessful attempts, he gets a beer and pours it into a tube to Bud, instantly reviving him playing that same guitar solo. It’s something they do often, but still fun live and the crowd absolutely loves it. Bassist Rob Babcock provided sewerage-gutteral vocals, singing almost as much as Harvey himself. Mike Hamilton on drums, also in Deeds of Flesh, lent a blistering blasting attack, driving that intensity that makes Exhumed so fun to watch. Overall, definitely one of their best performances and were amazing as always to witness.
Set List:
1. Sickened
2. Necrocracy
3. In The Name Of Gore
4. Limb From Limb
5. Coins Upon The Eyes
6. Dysmorphic
7. All Guts, No Glory
8. As Hammer To Anvil
9. The Matter Of Splatter
After only a 15-minute wait, Dying Fetus took the stage with a huge ovation from the crowd. Chants of “Fetus” and “Gallagher” roared through the venue. Their classic “Grotesque Impalement” was played first and had everyone in attendance in a vicious frenzy. It was truly something to see great attendance with the attitude and support to go with it. Too many times you see ‘fans’ just stand around and not really getting their money’s worth. I was glad to see this non-stop action. The sound was excellent. Brutal, clear and loud: All what you need at a death metal show. Sean Beasley was thanking the crowd throughout the show, very pleased by the crowd reactions and savagery taking place. Drummer Trey Williams was astounding to watch. Completely relaxed on the outside, yet playing at such a ferocious and violent speed. Dying Fetus has only 3 members and if you closed your eyes, you would easily think there’s at least 5 or more. Impeccable musicianship on this level truly lets you know how much more seriously metal should be taken.
Older songs such as “Killing on Adrenaline” and “Kill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog” were played, as well as newer cuts “From Womb to Waste”, “Second Skin” and “Your Treachery Will Die With You”. Each and every song was met with a copious amount of crowd surfing, moshing and violence. Fans were helping each other up when one fell down and no drama took place. I wish the same could be said for other shows in different genres of music. Metal is a brother/sisterhood, and that will never change. Dying Fetus’ set went by extremely quick. 13 songs went by in a flash with no encore. John Gallagher’s ability to play such incredible guitar as well as sing in such a dense and intense gutteral voice is something truly to behold. “Pissing in the Mainstream” was the very last song, and although the crowd by that time were just a little winded, they brought back the last bit of energy they had, giving Dying Fetus a crowd to remember.
All in all, one of the most brutal moshpits I’ve seen all year and an excellent show we were all honored to witness. Dying Fetus and Exhumed prove again why their live shows decimate all in their way. In any setting, headlining or not, do yourself a big favor and catch them the next time they come to your town.
Related Links:
Interview: Dying Fetus Drummer Talks Touring, Politics & More
In-depth Interview With Matt Harvey & Michael Hamilton Of Exhumed
Set List:
1. Grotesque Impalement
2. We Are Your Enemy
3. From Womb to Waste
4. Your Treachery Will Die With You
5. Homicidal Retribution
6. Beaten Into Submission
7. Killing on Adrenaline
8. Second Skin
9. The Blood of Power
10. Praise the Lord (Opium of the Masses)
11. One Shot, One Kill
12. Kill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog
13. Pissing in the Mainstream
Remaining Tour Dates:
10/16/2013 The Whisky – W. Hollywood, CA
10/17/2013 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
10/18/2013 Branx – Portland, OR
10/19/2013 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
10/20/2013 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC
10/22/2013 Republik – Calgary, AB
10/23/2013 Pawn Shop – Edmonton, AB
10/24/2013 Riddell Centre – Regina, SK
10/25/2013 Park Theater – Winnipeg, MB
10/26/2013 Station-4 – St Paul, MN
10/27/2013 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
10/29/2013 Peabodys – Cleveland, OH
10/30/2013 Chance Theater – Poughkeepsie, NY
10/31/2013 Palladium – Worcester, MA
11/01/2013 Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
11/02/2013 Empire – Springfield, VA