May 15th, 2022

Gracing our presence on this eventful, exciting Sunday evening, Dying Fetus performed one of their most stellar, riveting, profoundly impactful sets, I have ever seen from them.  30-something miles away, Behemoth/Arch Enemy/Napalm Death playing in Los Angeles, you wouldn’t be able to tell, considering tonight’s show at The Observatory was majorly packed.  Something for the Orange County crowd, as well as the Los Angeles bunch.

With tracks from every studio album represented, and more, the equal balance of a quality setlist, was also topped off with strong track cuts, not played too often.  “Epidemic of Hate” received a monstrous roar of approval, forming into an already boulder smashing mosh pit, before John Gallagher’s behemoth-level gurgles accompanied the crunchy, palm-muted riff, and Trey Williams’s glass-shattering drum-intro to lead the song.  One of the better than usual tracks from Destroy the Opposition, I could tell the crowd especially ate up the musical surprise.  It’s proof to paper that performing from a strong discography, can often be better than playing “the hits”, and more than ever, the gesture is marvelously appreciated when they do.

For a 3-piece band, the collective teamwork, sheer skill, and outstanding grit that Dying Fetus plays at, you don’t ever feel the lack of a 2nd guitar on-stage.  Sean Beasley’s vicious snarl and countering growls to Gallaghers, add a unique blend of emphasis on the band’s lyrics.  “One Shot, One Kill” displays that dynamic rather quickly, as Beasley and Gallagher’s vocal duo taking turns, from the former’s more barkish-tone, compared to the latter of a crushing growl.  Sean’s bass playing compliments Trey’s bass-drums, as well as the technical material on the stringed instruments, and watching him match John’s daring solo/melody work after the chorus, demonstrates his remarkable abilities and contributions live, and in-studio. The pummeling, chugging intro in “In the Trenches”, is a sure-fire way to get any fan to bang their god damn heads, a staple from Reign Supreme.

            Dying Fetus’s hour-long performance, set The Observatory in a blazing glory of Death Metal triumph.  No bells and whistles found within this show, just endless, terrorizing, Extreme Music.

1.  Schematics

2.  Subjected to a Beating

3.  In the Trenches

4.  One Shot, One Kill

5.  From Womb to Waste

6.  Atrocious by Nature

7.  Skull Fucked

8.  Epidemic of Hate

9.  Grotesque Impalement

10.  Homicidal Retribution

11.  Your Treachery Will Die With You

12.  Wrong One to Fuck With

13.  Kill Your Mother, Rape Your Dog