P

eople might have packed their gear for a homecoming trip already, but the quiet celebrations in Jakarta after a long month of fasting will not last that long this year. Especially because one of the US’s meanest death metal bands is coming to town just a week after Idul Fitri.

Dying Fetus, with sounds characterized by blasting beats, complex riffs and howling speedy guitars, will have John Gallagher, Sean Beasley and Trey Williams rocking the stage at Outdoor Bulungan, in Blok M, South Jakarta this Sept. 18, 2010.

With a history spanning almost two decades (1991), the Maryland based trio is known for their politically imbued lyrics, conveyed in a heavy growl and upper throat screams. Their first studio album, Purification through Violence, came out in 1996, yet their first demo was recorded early in 1993, resulting in the release of a compilation named Infatuation with Malevolence in 1995.

The band’s continuous change in line-up has not stopped it from achieving the sound it’s widely known for, releasing Descend into Depravity in 2009 under Relapse Records, the same label that released three of their previous studio recordings.

After Purification through Violence in 1996, the band moved to a German indie label Morbid Records from Pulverizer Records to release Killing on Adrenaline in 1998. It signed up with indie underground record label Relapse Records in 2000, releasing Destroy the Opposition in the same year, Stop at Nothing in 2003, War of Attrition in 2007 and Descend into Depravity last year.

The band’s front man, John Gallagher, is the only remaining band member from its earliest line-up in 1991. The band had five members back in 2003, namely Gallagher, guitarist Mike Kimball, singer Vince Matthews, bassist/backup singer Sean Beasley and Eric Sayenga on drums, but returned to its earliest form in July 2007.

Though our new generation might never have heard of the band, Dying Fetus is widely known back in 1996 to 2000, headlining every sold out major underground concert throughout America and Europe.

The band’s visit to Indonesia is part of their Southeast Asia Tour 2010, reaching the Philippines and Thailand before performing live at Akasaka Club in Bali on Sept. 16 and Sriwedari Stadium in Solo on Sept. 17. The band will leave for Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 19 to give its last performance in the Southeast Asia Tour before stepping into China for a series of performances and starting their US tour with Cannibal Corpse in November.

Indonesian fans in Jakarta can obtain tickets for the performance on the evening of Sept. 18 from Erma Sani SOLUCITES (021-93386006), Ukuy W.O.C.P (08151910056 / 021-91857850) Dapurletter (085692336522), Rins Dark (085716928151 /081892717) and Undying Music Patiunus (085782095227) for Rp 100,000 or get them on the spot for Rp 125,000. There will be plenty of local bands to check out before Dying Fetus, namely Dead Squad, Noxa, Prosatanica, Revenge and Tears of Joy.

This will be metal heads’ first and final opportunity to witness Dying Fetus live, after listening to them non stop on outdated cassette players. The concert should also mark our devious return to daily life before Ramadan began; life without self-imposed restrictions and deprivations.