Over the course of its existence, the San Diego-based
Cattle Decapitation has transformed 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 solo
noise projects as well as 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...
Travis Ryan - Human Resources/Director of Culinary Arts
-Cattle Decapitation-
Cattle Decapitation has transformed 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 solo
noise projects as well as 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...
Travis Ryan - Human Resources/Director of Culinary Arts
-Cattle Decapitation-
