Dying Fetus Grotesque Impalement Ep 2011 Remastered «LEGIT — Pack»
For those who obtained the physical 2011 remaster (released on CD and limited vinyl by Relapse Records), the presentation is worthy of note. The artwork—a garish, detailed illustration of the titular act—was cleaned up and sharpened. The booklet includes liner notes and rare photos from the era, showing a young, scrawny John Gallagher behind a mountain of amps. It’s a time capsule. The remastered vinyl pressing, in particular, is a revelation; the low-end rumble of the bass and kick drum is felt physically, turning your listening room into a pit.
Fast forward to 2011. The death metal revival was in full swing, and bands like Dying Fetus were enjoying a renaissance in both popularity and production quality. The decision to remaster the Grotesque Impalement EP was a gift to the faithful. This wasn’t a cash-grab; it was a respectful, brutal makeover. Dying Fetus Grotesque Impalement EP 2011 Remastered
To appreciate the 2011 remaster, one must first understand the landscape of 2000. Dying Fetus had already shocked the underground with Infatuation with Malevolence (1995) and Killing on Adrenaline (1998). But Grotesque Impalement (the album) arrived in 2000, and it was a tectonic shift. It introduced a more pronounced slam element, guttural vocal layering, and politically charged vitriol that would become their trademark. The EP, often overshadowed by its full-length parent, featured alternate versions and a crushing cover. It was raw, ugly, and perfect—but sonically trapped in early-digital murk. For those who obtained the physical 2011 remaster
For longtime fans, this remaster is like cleaning a cherished, bloodstained artifact—you finally see the intricate engravings beneath the gore. For new listeners, it’s the ideal entry point into Dying Fetus’s early catalog before diving into the pristine brutality of their later work. It proves that even at their rawest, Dying Fetus was light-years ahead of their peers. It’s a time capsule
This track is the historical treasure. Originally recorded during the Grotesque Impalement sessions but left off the final album, “Epidemic of Hate” foreshadows the direction of Destroy the Opposition (2003). It’s more groove-oriented, with a main riff that swings like a sledgehammer. The 2011 remaster scrubs away the demo hiss just enough to preserve the raw energy while making the song listenable in a modern context. Gallagher’s political venom is already in full force here, railing against systemic bigotry years before it became a common theme in death metal. The breakdown at the 2:30 mark—a syncopated, head-spinning pattern of silence and noise—is worth the price of admission alone.
