forced gender reassignment

Forced Gender Reassignment

Forced gender reassignment lyrics.

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One of the most controversial songs the San Diego gore/deathgrind band has made (and featuring a gruesome video to go with it), “Forced Gender Reassignment” explains in graphic detail a fictional gender reassignment surgery. The gore is just a medium to make political statements, however, as this song describes the struggles of life with gender dysphoria .

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

• 1. The Carbon Stampede
• 2. Dead Set on Suicide
• 3. A Living, Breathing Piece of Defecating Meat
• 4. Forced Gender Reassignment
• 5. Gristle Licker
• 6. Projectile Ovulation
• 7. Lifestalker
• 8. Do Not Resuscitate
• 9. Your Disposal
• 10. The Monolith
• 11. Kingdom of Tyrants
• An Exposition of Insides

Genius is the world’s biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge

David Reimer And The Tragic Story Of The ‘John/Joan Case’

David reimer was born a boy in winnipeg, canada in 1965 — but following a botched circumcision at the age of eight months, his parents raised him as a girl..

Facebook Although David Reimer’s story was initially seen as a success by his family and Dr. John Money, his story would eventually prove to have a tragic end.

David Reimer’s parents just wanted to do the right thing for him.

What was supposed to be a routine circumcision in 1965 turned into a life-altering nightmare for the Reimer family when the doctor performing his surgery accidentally singed the infant’s penis.

The damage was irreparable. Concerned that their son’s injury might cause him mental anguish as an adult, Reimer’s parents consulted with famed sexologist Dr. John Money after seeing him on television.

Money consequently suggested that Reimer undergo sex reassignment surgery and instead be raised female. Desperate, Reimer’s parents took his advice and changed their son’s name from “Bruce” to “Brenda.”

YouTube/Facebook David Reimer, born Bruce Reimer and biologically male, began an imposed gender transition as an infant.

Reimer appeared to take easily to his imposed gender identity as a female, and his case was initially seen as a success story by those physicians like Money who believed that gender was a matter of learned or taught behavior and not nature.

But in reality, Reimer struggled even as a child with his gender identity. Once he discovered the truth about his birth as a teenager, Reimer began a painful journey to return to his biological sex.

However, he could never fully recover. Finally, in 2004, David Reimer took his own life at the age of just 38.

David Reimer’s Future Is Decided By Sexologist John Money

In Memory of David Reimer/Facebook At 14, David Reimer (right) chose to live as a male.

David Reimer was born Bruce Reimer in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1965. He had a twin brother named Brian, and the two were the first children of a rural teenage couple, Janet and Ron.

The baby boys were healthy but, at about eight months old, showed signs of difficulty with urinating. They were diagnosed with phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin cannot retract.

The Reimers took their children to be circumcised at the hospital, but after Bruce Reimer’s surgery went horribly awry because the surgeon used an electrocautery needle instead of a blade, Brian was not subjected to the same surgery and his phimosis healed naturally.

David Reimer’s parents desperately sought solutions for him until they saw psychologist John Money speak about his work on TV.

Money was considered one of the top sex researchers in the United States, and he specialized in the experiences of intersex children who, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, “do not fit the typical definitions for male or female bodies.”

Reimer’s mother wrote to Money explaining the horrible accident her son had endured. Within a few weeks, the young parents were on their way to see the doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Diana Walker/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images Psychologist John Money claimed his gender experiment on the Reimer twins was a success — despite early warning signs that proved otherwise.

Money believed that a person’s gender identity was a social construct and the result of their upbringing. As such, he proposed that someone could be “taught” to identify differently than their biological sex.

Money thought that children were “gender-neutral” until about the age of two and theorized that parents had a period of time that he called the “gender gate” during which they could influence the sex of their child behaviorally.

The doctor thus made the radical proposition to reassign Bruce Reimer’s gender surgically, which would involve castrating his penis and giving him a prosthetic vagina instead. He would then be raised as a girl and not told of his former identity. Reimer’s parents agreed to the procedure and the infant’s imposed transition began shortly before his second birthday in 1967.

To Money, this situation also provided him with an opportunity to investigate his theory about gender identity. But his medical advice would prove fatally wrong in the case of David Reimer.

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Reimer’s Troubled Childhood And The Eventual Reveal Of The Truth

In Memory of David Reimer/Facebook Despite his tumultuous life, David Reimer found love with his wife Jane.

Upon John Money’s recommendation, Bruce Reimer began life as Brenda Reimer.

In addition to his sex reassignment surgery, Reimer was given estrogen supplements to help “feminize” his body. The Reimers returned to Money’s office every year so that the doctor could monitor both Brian and Brenda’s growth as a boy and a girl. The radical study became known as the John/Joan case.

Money noted that the twin sister, a.k.a. Brenda, was “much neater” than her twin brother Brian. Money also noted that Brenda was the more stubborn and dominant personality, which he dismissed as “tomboy traits.”

In 1975, when the twins turned nine, Money published his study in a book called Sexual Signatures where he described Reimer’s forced transition to Brenda as a success:

“The girl already preferred dresses to pants enjoyed wearing her hair ribbons, bracelets, and frilly blouses, and loved being her daddy’s little sweetheart. Throughout childhood, her stubbornness and the abundant physical energy she shares with her twin brother and expends freely have made her a tomboyish girl, but nonetheless a girl.”

But nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, Reimer recalled his childhood as far more distressing.

“I never quite fit in,” David Reimer said in a 2000 interview on Oprah . “Building forts and getting into the odd fistfight, climbing trees — that’s the kind of stuff that I liked, but it was unacceptable as a girl.”

According to author John Colapinto who worked with Reimer on his book As Nature Made Him: The Boy Who Was Raised as A Girl , the frequent visits Reimer made to Money’s office were also traumatic.

Reimer was shown pictures of naked adults to “reinforce Brenda’s gender identity” and pressed by Money to endure more surgeries that would make him more feminine. Both of the twins would later accuse Money of making them pose in various sexual positions which, according to Money, was just another element of his theory that involved “sexual rehearsal play.”

Janet Reimer reportedly wasn’t blind to her child’s discomfort with his female gender identity, either. She recalled the first time that Reimer was put in a dress he angrily tore it off. “There were doubts along the way,” Janet confessed on Oprah . “But I couldn’t afford to contemplate them because I couldn’t afford to be wrong.”

Problems at home extended to school. Reimer was teased by classmates for his “masculine gait” and his standing to pee in the girl’s bathroom. When Reimer complained about feeling like a boy, his parents and other adults convinced him that it was just a phase.

Reimer’s secret disrupted the family. His father sunk into alcoholism and his mother attempted suicide. Reimer’s twin sibling, Brian, later descended into substance abuse and petty crime.

It wasn’t until the twins entered their teens that other doctors convinced the Reimers that it was time to tell their children the truth. After picking up Brenda from a psychologist appointment in 1980, Ron Reimer drove both his children to an ice cream parlor where he told them the whole story.

“Suddenly it all made sense why I felt the way I did,” Reimer said of the revelation. “I wasn’t some sort of weirdo. I wasn’t crazy.”

The Tragic End Of David Reimer’s Story

After discovering the truth, Reimer chose to live as a boy and assumed the name “David.”

He endured multiple surgeries to restore his gender to male, including a double mastectomy to remove the breasts that had grown from years of estrogen therapy and attaching an artificial penis in place of his artificial vagina. He also took testosterone supplements.

But the physical stress wore on his mental health. By his early 20s, Reimer had attempted suicide twice and remained deeply depressed for years after.

Despite his anguish, however, Reimer found love and married a woman named Jane. They were together for 14 years. He was a stepfather to her three children and developed hobbies like camping, fishing, antiques, and collecting old coins.

In Memory of David Reimer/Facebook David Reimer took his own life in May 2004. He was 38.

Reimer later agreed to work with a second sexologist named Milton Diamond on the expectation that speaking about his experience might prevent physicians from making similar decisions for other infants.

Diamond criticized Money’s study for its lack of evidence and worked with Reimer to debunk Money’s theory that gender identity could be totally taught or learned. In 1997, around the time Reimer began speaking publicly about his childhood ordeal, Diamond’s study was published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine .

The breakthrough paper laid the foundation against performing sex reassignment surgery on intersex infants, which was once considered a “fix” for their gender non-conforming biology.

But the validation of the study wasn’t enough for Reimer to overcome his traumatic childhood. In May 2004, two years after his twin brother succumbed to a drug overdose, David Reimer killed himself. He was 38.

Reimer’s case was complex. His first gender transition was based on a medical accident and a scientific theory. As a result, he experienced gender dysphoria, which is the feeling that one’s biological sex differs from their gender identity. People who identify as transgender often experience gender dysphoria early in life as well.

Reimer may no longer be alive, but his journey to reclaim his gender identity contributed to a better understanding of the relationship between gender and biological sex.

After this look at the story of David Reimer, meet Maryam Khatoon Molkara , the transgender Iranian activist who helped legalize gender-confirming surgeries in Iran. Then, learn about Christine Jorgensen , America’s original transgender celebrity.

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The Meaning Behind The Song: Forced Gender Reassignment by Cattle Decapitation

Cattle Decapitation, the American deathgrind band known for their intense and controversial lyrics, explores various social and environmental issues through their music. One of their most notorious songs, “Forced Gender Reassignment,” delves into the sensitive topic of gender identity and highlights the struggles faced by transgender individuals in society.

Table of Contents

The song’s title, “Forced Gender Reassignment,” immediately grabs the listener’s attention and provokes a reaction. It addresses the alarming reality of some countries and societies where transgender individuals face discrimination, violence, and even forced transition surgeries. Through their brutal and satirical approach, Cattle Decapitation shines a light on the cruel practices that deny individuals the right to self-expression and personal identification.

Frequently Asked Questions about “Forced Gender Reassignment”

1. what inspired cattle decapitation to write this song.

Cattle Decapitation draws inspiration from the injustices and challenges that transgender individuals endure. They use their platform to raise awareness about these issues and provoke thought through their music.

2. What is the main message behind “Forced Gender Reassignment”?

The song aims to shed light on the struggles faced by transgender individuals, emphasizing the importance of respecting their rights, identity, and bodily autonomy. It criticizes societies that enforce gender norms and practices that violate individual freedom.

3. Is “Forced Gender Reassignment” meant to be taken literally?

While the song’s title may suggest a literal interpretation, its intention is to provoke a reaction and engage listeners in dialogue about the hardships faced by transgender individuals. It condemns the idea of forced transition surgeries and advocates for understanding and acceptance.

Already know this song's meaning? Watch this video to see 30 popular songs where everyone gets the meaning WRONG!

4. How does Cattle Decapitation approach the topic with their music?

Cattle Decapitation combines their deathgrind style with thought-provoking lyrics to convey their message effectively. They use intense and graphic imagery to shock and engage listeners, encouraging them to confront uncomfortable societal issues.

5. How has the song been received by audiences and critics?

“Forced Gender Reassignment” has garnered both praise and criticism. Some applaud the band’s efforts to address an important issue and spark conversations, while others argue that the brutality of the lyrics undermines the message.

6. Has the song made an impact on the transgender community?

The transgender community has had mixed reactions to the song. While some appreciate the band’s attempt to shed light on their struggles, others argue that the brutal depiction of forced surgery can be triggering and insensitive.

7. What is the significance of including controversial lyrics in songs?

Cattle Decapitation uses controversial lyrics as a means to draw attention to important social issues. By challenging societal norms and pushing boundaries, they force listeners to confront uncomfortable truths and initiate dialogue.

8. How can a song like “Forced Gender Reassignment” contribute to social change?

Songs like “Forced Gender Reassignment” can contribute to social change by raising awareness and generating discussions around important issues. They challenge listeners’ preconceptions and encourage them to question societal norms and biases.

9. Does Cattle Decapitation advocate for any specific solution in the song?

Cattle Decapitation does not explicitly advocate for a specific solution in the song. Instead, they provoke thought and urge listeners to reflect on the injustices faced by transgender individuals while encouraging acceptance and understanding.

10. Does Cattle Decapitation address other social and environmental issues in their music?

Yes, Cattle Decapitation often tackles various social and environmental issues in their music. They explore themes such as animal rights, environmental destruction, human exploitation, and societal hypocrisy.

11. How do Cattle Decapitation fans interpret the song?

Fans of the band interpret “Forced Gender Reassignment” differently based on their own perspectives and experiences. Some view it as a powerful commentary on transgender rights, while others appreciate it solely for its aggressive musical style.

12. What other songs by Cattle Decapitation would you recommend exploring?

If you’re interested in Cattle Decapitation’s style and their thought-provoking lyrics, you may also want to check out songs like “The Prophets of Loss,” “Manufactured Extinct,” and “Apex Blasphemy.” These songs touch on similar themes and deliver impactful messages.

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Cattle Decapitation’s “Forced Gender Reassignment” Hailed As One Of The Most Controversial Music Videos

Deathgrind masters Cattle Decapitation have landed at #1 on WatchMojo.com’s “Another Top 10 Controversial Music Videos” list for their now infamous “Forced Gender Reassignment” clip, which was directed by Mitch Massie. We premiered the video in 2012 and it has since become an internet sensation, attaining an almost “2 Girls 1 Cup” aura where viewers are challenged to see how long they can last before turning away in horror/disgust/revulsion/whatever.

What’s interesting to note is that this list tackles primarily mainstream artists, such as Miley Cyrus , Madonna , Erykah Badu , as well as others. Even the harder artists in this list, Tool , Korn , and Rammstein , are incredibly popular, so their placement amongst the “mainstream” makes sense. But Cattle Decapitation is not a part of the mainstream, nor have they ever been. To see them on this list is incredibly surprising and refreshing. However, it’s also troubling.

You see, it’s refreshing because the mainstream should never forget that there is a world of music that they coast over. Society shoves mass manufactured garbage into our faces, endlessly regurgitating the same simple chord structures time and time again, changing the synth pad so that we think what we’re hearing is new. And yet people keep eating it up because that’s all they recognize in the world around them. But if they were to brave the darkness and open themselves up to new possibilities, they can leave the comforts of the world they know and explore the seedy, honest, emotional underbelly that has such riches.

So seeing Cattle Decapitation in a list like this is great because people are forced to confront the fact that there is a world of music that they don’t venture into, either because of complacency or because of cowardice. And who knows? Maybe one or two people who viewed this list without knowing of the band decided to delve a bit deeper and hear some more that they have to offer. A few new fans? Awesome!

So why, you may ask, is it also troubling? Because the metal world is constantly facing stigmas. We’re angry. We’re devil worshippers. We’re idiotic knuckleheads. We’re uneducated. We’re homophobic. We’re racist. So on and so forth, over and over and over and over…

Let’s be honest, the video is f*cked up. It really is. When I was offered the opportunity to premiere it, I was hesitant. After all, the video tackles some incredibly touchy subjects AND features terrifying amounts of sexual violence. But the most important thing to remember here is that had it done all of this just for the shock factor I never would’ve shown it. If all the band and director Mitch Massie wanted to do was make people squirm in their seats for their own sadistic pleasure, some other site could’ve had it. I don’t care. I’m not showing mindless smut.

But it’s not mindless smut. It’s not a video that wants to shock just for the sake of being shocking. It has a message. It has a point. And it’s damn effective to those who are ready to face the horrors and give it a clinical, almost academic view.

But when the mainstream see a video like “Forced Gender Reassignment” and hear it labeled as “the most controversial video”, it gives them ammunition to denigrate us, the metal community. To quote Tommy Lee Jones’ character K from Men In Black , “ People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. ” The vast majority of people will see these clips from “Forced Gender Reassignment” and refuse to look further. Or they’ll use it as a means to explain why violent acts occur. It’s been done before .

Why? Because they’ll be looking in all the wrong places. They’ll focus on the gore and not the message. They’ll see the violence and not read the lyrics (because 99.999% of them won’t be able to understand Travis Ryan’s vocals). They will completely miss that this song is a wake up call. It’s meant to inspire changing your perception and opening yourself to a new view. Just look at these lyrics from the song itself:

“ Fear breeds contempt in the heart of a man One has to question this common trait – Why do we hate what we don’t understand? ”

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that people will focus on all the wrong aspects, just like they’ve always done with metal. And that’s why this is troubling. It’s not the band’s fault. It’s not the director’s fault. It’s the fault of people who refuse to take the time to look just that little bit deeper. I’m not asking them to like it and, to be honest, I don’t expect them to. But it’d be damn nice if they’d at least appreciate it.

Here’s the list for you to check out.

Managing editor/music guy/social media fella of Bloody-Disgusting

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A Disturbing Nightmare: Returning to ‘Eden Lake’ 16 Years Later

Here in the US, James Watkins ’ directorial debut Eden Lake went straight to DVD and was distributed by Dimension Films. Of all the titles to fly under the Dimension Extreme banner though, this one was the most deserving. The movie turned out to be more of an endurance test than I could have ever anticipated. Eden Lake also manages to be both acclaimed and despised. Anyone who knows what became of Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly ’s characters very well understands the mixed sentiments surrounding this movie.

British horror was struggling to hold on after the original closure of Hammer and the Video Nasties period, yet by the early 2000s, a revival had begun. It was as if the reluctance to do genre movies had been replaced with a kind of fever. Dog Soldiers , My Little Eye , Deathwatch , 28 Days Later , Shaun of the Dead , Creep , The Descent . There was now this flood of horror not seen since the ‘70s. And perhaps in a bid to compete with the general intensity of France’s New Extremity, these newer Brit horrors were not all Gothic houses and ghosts. On the contrary, the aughts had an increasing penchant for physical menace, special effects, and sharp violence.

Eden Lake might have been trying to match the bite force of its French contemporaries, such as High Tension , or maybe it wanted to show up overseas movies like Hostel and Saw , but Watkins was also reflecting the times. In more ways than one, of course. Not only had all horror started to push the envelope, there was a discernible uptick in cruelty. The ‘00s output, by and large, was excessive when it came to brutality. Filmmakers had turned the destruction of the human body into an artform.

Pictured: Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender in Eden Lake .

So why does Eden Lake leave a bad taste in the mouth, despite its peers having similar mean streaks? Well, this movie’s timing was as opportune as it was poor. As I had learned through horror movies like  Eden Lake , the ubiquitous hoodie was under fire in the UK due to their perceived connection to criminality and antisocial behavior. The 2000s-era political movement to curb freedoms of hoodies’ primary demographic, namely youth, was met with criticism; Conservative David Cameron claimed the fashion choice was “more defensive than offensive” and wearers required “a lot more love.” However, his “hug-a-hoodie” speech missed the mark, especially when a certain picture — a hooded photobomber waved a finger-gun while standing behind an unaware Cameron — made the headlines. You can imagine how this was perceived and weaponized by the media and public. Not too long after, the most well-known hoodie horror movie was then released. And to some folks, Eden Lake did more harm than good by validating irrational fears.

Horror has a tendency to be the most informed of its surroundings — culturally, socially, politically — as well as transparent with its messaging. So when a movie like Eden Lake delivers a story about reprobates menacing affluent tourists, especially during the midst of Hoodie Panic, then it’s understandable that audiences would feel confused. On the surface is a not-so-standard thriller that is thoroughly gripping. Watkins successfully channeled classic rural British horrors, like And Soon the Darkness and Straw Dogs , and adjusted the ferocity for modern times. The story’s refusal to show mercy or hold back sets it apart from all the so-called “torture porn” coming out in those days.

Revisiting Eden Lake poses a challenge, even now knowing what to expect. Maybe more so. That awful sequence of Steve (Fassbender) suffering unduly at the hands of his teenage killers (led by the magnetic and fierce Jack O’Connell ) is shorter than remembered, but waiting for it to end still feels like an eternity. There was this trend of making the victims of 2000s horror movies intentionally obnoxious so that their gruesome deaths would be more entertaining. In that same vein, Watkins indeed painted Steve to be snobbish and incapable of picking his battles; he could have left and gone elsewhere. But truly, was any of that grounds for death? Absolutely not. And not a swift and painless death, either. No, Steve realizes he’s not long for this world once he finds himself bleeding “gut blood.” Prolonging that agony is equally effective and fiendish on the director’s part.

Pictured: Michael and Fassbender Kelly Reilly in Eden Lake .

Taken at face value, Eden Lake is yet another graphic battle between locals and outsiders. Digging deeper and taking the peripheral Hoodie Panic into full account, the movie is a politically charged piece of exploitation. The story does more than update the violence of vintage rural horror; it also modifies the villains. Instead of the usual countryside and backwoods killers, there are now “chavs” hunting down the middle and upper classes. In his book Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class , political activist, journalist and author Owen Jones went so far as to say movies like Eden Lake encouraged people to be afraid of the working class. And based on the reactions across the pond, some Brits accepted the movie’s portrayal as truth.

It would be remiss to not bring up why Eden Lake doesn’t encourage rewatches. As you might guess, I am referring to the movie’s ending. After Fassbender’s character is removed from the story altogether, Jenny (Reilly) takes over. She’s been set up to be the survivor since the beginning. And like all the final girls before her, Jenny defeats her attackers and finds refuge. Unfortunately, Jenny’s safety and our relief are both fleeting, because her saviors are none other than the parents of the teens she just slaughtered. And like the scary monsters they are thought to be, the parents take matters into their own hands and do to Jenny what their kids did to Steve. That type of ending is much too bleak, even for this one desensitized viewer.

Whether or not it meant to, Eden Lake fed into the idea of a Broken Britain. The belief that the UK was suffering from social decay. Yet depending on whatever side of the Atlantic you happen to be situated on, the political context may not even matter. To the more casual and unaffected viewer, Eden Lake is, quite simply, a viscerally unkind movie. One that exceeds the limits of its own genre.

James Watkins’ new horror movie, Speak No Evil, is now available on Digital.

Horrors Elsewhere  is a recurring column that spotlights a variety of movies from all around the globe, particularly those not from the United States. Fears may not be universal, but one thing is for sure  —  a scream is understood, always and everywhere.

Pictured: Jack O’Connell, Thomas Turgoose, and Finn Atkins in Eden Lake .

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Interviews : “Forced Gender Reassignment wasn’t really THAT bad…” – An Interview With Travis Ryan (Cattle Decapitation)

  Cattle Decapitation – Travis Ryan

A band that brings to light some of the most pressing social and environmental issues of today’s world, through the sheer brutality of their music and who do it extremely well might I add, Cattle Decapitation has undeniably earned their top spot in the world of heavy metal. “Our name – it’s such a crazy irony. When it was created, it was just to be blatant, kind of ridiculous and over the top. The dudes who also play in the band The Locust came up with this really ‘out there’ name but once I came into the band, we sort of morphed it into a metaphor for, the destruction of the human race. People in mass, are often referred to as ‘cattle’ and well, I guess that’s just what we want to project. That the human race is leading itself to destruction.”

It’s been five years since the band have visited our shores and Travis Ryan, vocalist of the band, is alarmed at the immense gap between their tours. “The only thing we have planned for the next year is our Australian Tour and we are really, really looking forward to that. We have great memories of the country and just being there was amazing. For me, one of my favourite memories is obviously going to the koala sanctuary, hanging out with the kangaroos out on the lawn, it was really amazing. It all happened pretty quickly. I spent almost 40 years of my life just wanting to go to Australia, get the Australian experience, I was obsessed with the idea of going there. I tried for years to get the band over there and it was always such a pain in the ass. It still is a pain in the ass! Took us two years.  Our last album came out two years ago so we should have been there fucking two years ago!”

But this extended time between tours can only mean one thing – a kick arse setlist! ” We’re bringing our best set that we’ve ever done! It’ll definitely be the longest set we’ve ever done as well. It’s basically going to be the last three records – that’s our favourite stuff to play really. We’ve gone back through our old catalogue and tried pulling songs out and it doesn’t really work.  I hate to say it but to the people that want to hear it, we would just rather play the newer stuff. We’re a bit selfish that way I guess but nobody’s really complained so far, so I think we’re good!” I’d be happy watching them perform just their latest album, but the last three – well, holy shit Australia, you better be mosh-ready! “We love getting up in people’s faces and vice versa”, Travis says with glee when talking about the band’s live performances. “That’s the kind of band we are. I think we’re built mostly for clubs and pub shows. I’m not going to say the smaller the better, because with small venues, sometimes, comes shitty equipment and PA’s. We like to sound good when we play live, as good as possible! I guess you could say we shine brighter in the club scene even though festivals are fun to play.”

Cattle Decapitation’s last release in 2015, The Anthropocene Extinction was my album of the year and was a favourite amongst many end of year lists, which honestly comes as no surprise. It was unlike anything the band had done before and reflected in their music. Travis spoke about the most pressing matter in the world that concerns and scares him. “Well, I don’t want to get into politics. Apart from that, it’s honestly the amount of plastic and trash that is present in the world’s oceans making its way from the land. This has been happening for so many years – since the 50’s I guess when the dawn of plastics came into play and we started manufacturing so much. Seeing the amount of waste that is washing up on remote islands, is alarming – these are fragile ecosystems that could create a chain reaction. The same things are happening on land and it all comes back to humans of course. Overpopulation, the sheer density of it all, and no one really knows what to do.  This is one big thing that kinda scares me the most.” Musically, this was indeed a standout album from the band’s career and it always amazes me, how, even after so many years, a band can still keep things fresh, unique and in the case of Cattle Decap so completely unorthodox. ” Well we’ve been around for a long time, and I’m not trying to sound all hoity-toity, but as an artist, you get bored of doing the same old kind of thing. You just want to branch out and it’s amazing, having a group of people in the band that are cool with that, trying different things with their respective instruments. When the band started writing more melodic stuff, that really opened the doors for us, especially for me, to try and do something that nobody else was really doing.”

“It all comes to us naturally; I can’t really speak for them, I don’t know how they write – I come in later. For me, it just comes naturally. Honestly, there are things that don’t work. Like, I’ll get in the studio (and this happened on a song on the recent record), and I don’t know what the hell I was hearing before but think to myself that this clearly isn’t working now. So we have to work with the producer and think of ways to do something completely different. The sound dynamic does come to us naturally but to get there, it’s a lot of work. It’s all part of the process. ”

Fifteen minutes wasn’t enough to have a chat with one of my favourite vocalists in metal, but I managed to sneak in a little conversation about the video that YouTube rejected and caught the attention of even the Russian Deep Web. “With that video; for ‘Forced Gender Reassignment’ – it was a curiosity thing. It’s quite literally one of, if not the most brutal, horribly disgusting music video of all time. You couldn’t find it on youtube anywhere but there were reaction videos to it! The funny thing to me is – this has all been done before. Horror movies, snuff shit, disgusting real life stuff on the internet, gore – when you look at all of that stuff, this video wasn’t REALLY that bad. ” Asking Travis to elaborate, he explains, ” There’s a phenomenon that happens when you put music over some horrible visual that immediately repulses people or draws people in…You take a video of a puppy- its just a puppy, you look at a puppy and it’s cute as hell. and you’re like ‘awwww’. and if you go and put Sarah McLachlan’s music over it and all of a sudden, you’re tearing up and crying because the pressing melancholy music of this video is going over this little puppy.” But wait, there’s more to this! “All of a sudden it takes a completely different turn you put death metal music over something like that, it’s glorification of whatever is happening on the screen. It wasn’t coming from the gore for the sake of gore standpoint, that’s why it was controversial and it gets talked about.”

When chatting with bands that have been around for years together, I love getting their opinion on certain aspects of this industry and the scene – one of them being the insane number of genres and labels that now exist. Travis had a lot to say about it too. “We have to remember – these are mostly kids coming up with this shit and, they’ll figure it out. Or not. Fuck them anyway. I’m honestly torn on it because I think it’s stupid to label a band. Every single band that comes out now is like, ” WE ARE …..” and then there’s a string of adjectives following that. It’s all just unnecessary. Like,  I call us extreme metal, not death metal.  Death metal to me was a time, a place and an atmosphere and it takes place in the late 80s to the 90’s. Everything else since then has been a bastardization but too many that are straight up not death metal call themselves death metal.  I’m what everyone calls an ‘elitist’ if that means being correct then I’m totally fine with it. Just because something has blast beats and growly vocals, doesn’t make it death metal.” Fair enough!

Travis Ryan has one last message to Australia ahead of their tour in February. “We are not bullshitting – we love playing there and have been trying like crazy to get to Australia. I promise you 0 if you were to type Australia in my email, at least 200 or so would pop up. So trust me when I say, we’re totally dying to come back, it’s going to be insane and we’re really looking forward to seeing you at the shows!”

Catch Cattle Decapitation across Australia and New Zealand in February with special guests Psycroptic . Tickets on sale now via Destroy All Lines. Click here to secure your tickets.

Cattle Decapitation’s new album  The Anthropocene Extinction  is out now via Nerve Gas. Click here to purchase your copy.

About Prarthana

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