Originally founded in 1996, Cattle Decapitation's songs protest the mistreatment and consumption of animals as well as the abuse of the environment. Lyrics may also focus on subjects such as misanthropy and genocide of the human race. Much of their music is based on putting humans in the situations that animals are subjected to (animal testing, slaughter, etc.). Only two current members are vegetarian: Travis Ryan and Josh Elmore.[citation needed]
Their 2002 album To Serve Man saw controversy in Germany, where distribution company SPV refused to handle the album due to its graphic cover.[3] The cover of the 2004 album Humanure, featuring a cow excreting human remains, was reportedly censored without permission from the label in some outlets. Record store owners did not display the album, making it difficult for customers to find and buy it.[4][5]
Former member Gabe Serbian is a member of the band The Locust.[6] Former member Dave Astor was also a member of The Locust.
Metal author and journalist Garry Sharpe-Young once acknowledged the band as "one of the few metal bands whose message hits as hard as their music".[3]
In August 2009, Cattle Decapitation parted ways with long-time bassist Troy Oftedal because of "musical and personal differences".[7]
Their latest album, Monolith of Inhumanity, was released in 2012. It received positive reviews upon release.[8][9]
Cattle Decapitation has toured with many death metal bands including Suffocation, Cryptopsy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Deicide, Behemoth, Hate Eternal, Krisiun and Job For A Cowboy[citation needed]. As of May 2012, they are touring with Fear Factory, Voivod, and Revocation, among others.[10]
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
| 1996 | Ten Torments of the Damned demo | Self-released |
| 1999 | Human Jerky | Three One G |
| 2000 | Homovore | Three One G |
| 2000 | ¡Decapitacion! single | Accident Prone |
| 2002 | To Serve Man | Metal Blade Records |
| 2004 | Humanure | Metal Blade Records |
| 2005 | Cattle Decapitation/Caninus split 7" | War Torn Records |
| 2006 | Karma.Bloody.Karma | Metal Blade Records |
| 2009 | The Harvest Floor | Metal Blade Records |
| 2012 | Monolith of Inhumanity | Metal Blade Records |
Band members
- Current
- Travis Ryan – vocals (1997–present)
- Josh Elmore – guitar (2001–present)
- Dave McGraw – drums (2008–present)
- Derek Engemann – bass guitar (2010–present)
- Former
- Scott Miller – guitar, vocals (1996)
- Gabe Serbian – guitar, drums on Ten Torments of the Damned (1996–2001)
- Dave Astor – drums, bass on Ten Torments of the Damned (1996–2003)
- Michael Laughlin – drums (2003–2007)
- Troy Oftedal – bass (1998–2009)
- Kevin Talley – live drums (2006)
- Rahsaan Davis – live bass (2009)
