The story of Dying Fetus is one for the storybooks, indeed. Formed in 1991 (and spawning Misery Index in the process), guitarist/vocalist John Gallagher chose the name in jest with the sole purpose of raising ire and eyebrows.
Three decades later, and the band is no laughing matter. Make Them Beg For Death (Relapse Records) is a colossal creation, showcasing everything that makes Dying Fetus both a pioneering and constant force in the brutal death metal scene.
It’s the group’s ninth full-length, but only the third in the last eleven years. And even despite a veritable laundry list of past members (Gallagher being the lone remaining original), it’s Dying Fetus through and through.
Hidden behind the wall of belligerence is a refreshing and diverse groove mixed with riffs and multi-layered tracks.
Presently only a three-piece (rounded out by Sean Beasley on bass/vocals and Trey Williams on drums), the sound is varied, sustained and polished. ‘Feast Of Ashes’ boasts acrobatic stringwork and complex arrangements, emanating a guttural, grotesque aura. The sub-two-minute ‘Throw Them In The Van’ is sturdy and compact – deliberate, punchy riffs and thick, brawny drums offset the need for flashy solos. Instead, Make Them Beg For Death is no-nonsense, veteran musicianship. Effectively switching up the vocal and drum techniques maintains listener engagement and throughout the entire album is an air of naturally occurring extreme metal.
‘Compulsion For Cruelty’ features more tinny, quick drumming, and ‘Unbridled Fury’ (an excellent album title in its own right) sneaks in a cheeky guitar fill. ‘Raised In Victory, Razed In Defeat’ effectively progresses its heaviness throughout the track. And Gallagher ensures the monumental record closes with the warbling might that is ‘Subterfuge;.
At this stage, Dying Fetus may still offend some. But nobody can question the band’s consistent, enduring identity. Their presence in the landscape is as weighty as their sound, and they haven’t missed a damn beat since debuting in the 1990s.
Buy the album here:
https://orcd.co/dyingfetus-mtbfd
8 / 10
MATT COOK