Over the course of its existence, the San
Diego-based Cattle Decapitation has ransformed from a stripped-down
gore-grind side project of the arty hardcore/grindcore band the Locust
to a full-fledged death metal band of their own, undergoing a confusing
maze of lineup changes in the process. Their association with the Locust
formed much of the original basis for their popularity in hardcore
circles, which was unusual for a band that growled out the type of
disturbing, gore-oriented lyrics usually reserved for Carcass/Cannibal
Corpse audiences. However, as the years went by and their connections to
the Locust finally severed personnel-wise, it became clear that they
were indeed a real band of their own, not a side project; they
eventually signed to established metal powerhouse label Metal Blade
Records and, musically, took on more of a professional death metal sound
while retaining their original pro-vegetarian/gore-oriented lyrical
stance.
Cattle Decapitation originally formed in San Diego in 1996. Originally,
the lineup featured David Astor on bass and Gabe Serbian on drums --
both of whom were then also members of the Locust -- as well as an
unknown guitarist/vocalist, who soon allegedly
vanished without the other members knowing anything of his whereabouts.
Seeking a replacement on vocals, the band turned to Travis Ryan, who had
actually been playing drums for another San Diego metal band,
Strangulation, in addition to serving as vocalist in a gore metal band
called Anal Flatulence. With Ryan on board, Astor moved from bass to
drums, and Serbian moved from drums to guitar. This lineup quickly
released two albums, the Human Jerky LP (on the Nevada label Satan's
Pimp) and the Homovore CD/LP.
Next, they added a bassist, Troy Oftedal, with whom they recorded their
third full-length, To Serve Man, released in the fall of 2002 on Metal
Blade, a move that would expose them to more of a death metal-oriented
audience (as opposed to the hardcore/grindcore one that they had mostly
been playing to before). Also in 2002, the band added a second
guitarist, Josh Elmore (formerly of 7000 Dying Rats), who eventually
took over as the band's sole guitarist after Serbian left in order to
devote himself more fully into the Locust. (Serbian now plays drums in
the Locust, replacing Astor, who ironically had left the Locust so that
he could more fully devote himself to Cattle Decapitation). The members
of Cattle Decapitation are involved in several side projects, among them
Oftedal's punk/metal band DisreantiyouthhellchristbastardassmanX, Ryan's
noise project 5/5/2000, and UUM, another noise project involving both
Ryan as well as Oftedal.
~ William York, All Music Guide
The band has since parted ways with Astor for inability to live up to
the necessities of the band and demanding tour schedule to make way for
Michael Laughlin, known for his work in Creation Is Crucifixion, a band
notorious for thier rigorous touring and musical technicality.
Considering the damning brutality of every day existence, the future of
Cattle Decapitation seems to be a very brightly lit place. Stay tuned.
Stay gore...
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