UMUR "Grotesque Impalement" is an EP release by US, Maryland based death metal act Dying Fetus. The EP was released through Blunt Force Records in early 2000. The material was recorded at Hit and Run Studios in November 1999. "Grotesque Impalement" bridges the gap between the band´s second and third full-length studio albums "Killing on Adrenaline (1998)" and "Destroy the Opposition (2000)", and features the same lineup as the latter mentioned.

The original version of "Grotesque Impalement" features 6 tracks and a full playing time of 21:51 minutes. Relapse Records reissued the EP in 2010 and added 3 bonus tracks. The original version features 2 re-recordings of "Grotesque Impalement" and "Tearing Inside the Womb" from the "Bathe In Entrails (1993)" demo, a cover of "Streaks of Blood" by Baphomet, a cover of "Bringing Back the Glory" by Next Step Up, and two "comic" heavy metal tracks in "Final Scream (Prelude to Evil: Davey's Nightmare)" and "Hail Mighty North / Forest Trolls of Satan (Anno Clitoris 666)".

The 2010 Relapse Records reissue version (in addition to the above) features "Reduced To Slavery", which is an original composition from 2000, which was used as a Japanese bonus track on "Destroy the Opposition (2000)". "Purged Of My Worldly Being" is a live recording from 1999. It was a track which in it´s original form appeared on the "Infatuation with Malevolence (1994)" demo. "Dumpster Love" is a track recorded in 2010, which follows the "comic" heavy metal tradition of the two closing tracks of the origial version of the EP.

The re-recordings of the demo tracks, the Baphomet cover, and "Reduced To Slavery" all sound more or less like Dying Fetus did in those days. Brutal and techncially well played death metal with a strong focus on groove. So it´s the hardcore punk cover of "Bringing Back the Glory" and the "comic" heavy metal tracks on the EP, which make "Grotesque Impalement" quite different from the regular releases by the band. There´s a lot of melodic guitar playing and clean and semi-raw vocals on those tracks, which are quite new when dealing with Dying Fetus. A band which usually stands for unrelenting brutality. It´s nice to hear they also have a humourous side and it works pretty well.

Upon conclusion "Grotesque Impalement" probably isn´t the most important release in the band´s discography, but on the other hand the content is really entertaining and generally of high quality too. The sound production is slightly more rough around the edges compared to the two studio albums which bookend it, but it´s still well produced. So a 3.5 star (70%) rating isn´t all wrong.

J-Man The first two Dying Fetus albums were certainly decent, but hadn't completely convinced me of their status as death metal "gods". Grotesque Impalement, a short 21-minute EP released in 2000, was the first Dying Fetus release that really grabbed my attention. Featuring some of the finest material the band has to offer and excellent uses of humor, this EP was a step in the right direction for this Annapolis-based act. There are definitely some flaws here, but Grotesque Impalement is a generally strong effort from Dying Fetus. Now that Relapse Records has put together a version with excellent liner notes and ten minutes of bonus material, anyone who missed out on this the first time around is advised to check it out.

The music on Grotesque Impalement is very similar to what was on the first two Dying Fetus albums. That means you should expect very technical brutal death metal/grindcore played in a raw and unpolished fashion. The only change here (and it's a fairly major one) is that Dying Fetus included some 80's heavy metal influences in "Hail Mighty North / Forest Trolls Of Satan (Anno Clitoris 666)" and the bonus track "Dumpster Love" (which is absolutely hilarious and worth hearing for everyone). The original EP also consisted of two re-recorded demo tracks, two cover tracks (Baphomet's "Streaks of Blood" and Next Step Up's "Bringing Back the Glory"), and a reproduction of the intro to Grim Reaper's "Final Scream". If you get the Relapse Reissue (which I would recommend), you get the aforementioned "Dumpster Love", the previously unreleased "Reduced to Slavery" and a live version of "Purged of My Worldly Being". Musically, this is a fairly strong EP and Dying Fetus had clearly become much more talented musicians by this point.

I had an issue with the production of the early Dying Fetus albums, and although some work could be done here, this is a huge improvement. Grotesque Impalement generally has a powerful and full sound.

Grotesque Impalement is a very good, and often great, EP by Dying Fetus that I'd recommend all fans of eclectic death metal to look into. This was the best release that Dying Fetus had formulated up until this point, and the end result is fairly pleasing. I have a few issues with the consistency of the music, but a 3.5 star rating is still deserved. This is an album that will smack you in the face with brutal riffs and vocals, and the fact that I'll still occasionally laugh proves the versatility that Dying Fetus had mastered on this EP. I'd recommend fans of the band and extreme metal to take a look into this.

metalmillennium Dying Fetus have caused quite a stir in the Underground scene, being hailed as elitists in the modern DM circuit--which has gotten to the attention of record associates and landed them a contract with Relapse Records recently. Dying Fetus play a form of Hardcore \ Brutal Death Metal with vocals ranging from low-pitched gutteral grunts to high shrieks similar to the Black Metal genre. The guitars are at the forefront, with nice blastbeat drumuming adding to the all-out fury. Grotesque Impalement is a six track EP containing a skit, a parody, a cover, and three originals. The title track and "Streaks of Blood" both contain catchy, thick riffs which hold up great on repeated listens. Check out the slower riffs around 2:11 in "Bringing Back the Glory" that push the song towards a heavy-hitting climax. "Tearing Inside the Womb" hits hard and interestingly "Hail Mighty North: Forest Trolls of Satan (Anno Clitoris 666 Opus 11)" is one of the better songs. The 80s style riffs make it a very catchy listen with a short but sweet solo that is a highlight, although probably not meant to be taken very seriously. 'A parody towards Black Metal, which is a bit silly, but a good cut none-the-less.

Pretty nice work, especially for an EP.. Let's see what the full-length will sound like.. One of the more capable 'Hardcore \ Brutal Death Metal' bands I've come across that carry a keen sense of groove and humor in the music. Dying Fetus just got signed to Relapse Records, so keep your eyes peeled for them.