Insect Warfare was an American grindcore band from Houston, Texas.[1]

Insect Warfare
OriginHouston, Texas, U.S.
GenresGrindcore
Years active2004–2008
(Reunions: 2009, 2016, 2017)
Labels
Past members
  • Rahi Geramifar
  • Beau Beasley
  • Frank Faerman
  • Alex Hughes
  • Neal Dossey
  • Dobber Beverly
  • Chris Grenfell
Websiteinsectwarfare.blogspot.com

History

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Insect Warfare was originally founded in 2000 as a solo project of vocalist Rahi Geramifar, before turning into a proper band in 2004.[2][3] The band's original lineup consisted of Geramifar, drummer Frank Faerman, and guitarists Neal Dossey and Beau Beasely. Although he was not a founding member, Beasley would quickly become the band's primary songwriter.[4] In October 2006, the band replaced Faerman with Dobber Beverly.[5]

Insect Warfare's only full-length album, World Extermination, was released on September 10, 2007, through 625 Thrashcore Records.[6][7][8][9] The band recorded the album in a single day.[10] At the 2007 Houston Press Music Awards, Insect Warfare's set was cut short after only five minutes by the sound engineer.[11] This incident led to the release of the Fuck HPMA EP in early 2008.[4] In December 2007, Insect Warfare released two unmastered songs, "Information Economy" and "Cancer of Oppression", through their MySpace page.[12][13] In early 2008, the band toured Australia with Agents of Abhorrence.[14] Insect Warfare would break up following their performance at the Dude Festival in Indianapolis on June 21, 2008,[15][16] owing to Beasley's exhaustion with the band.[17]

Following their disbandment, Insect Warfare posthumously released a split EP with Agoraphobic Nosebleed on November 4, 2008.[18][19] Interest in World Extermination grew slowly after its initial release, prompting several record labels to offer to reissue the album. Beasley rejected most of these offers until he was encouraged by Digby Pearson to sign with Earache Records.[4][20] Earache subsequently reissued the album on March 2, 2009.[20] In October 2009, Insect Warfare toured the United Kingdom and Ireland.[21][22] Days before the tour was to begin, Germafir pulled out and Chris Grenfell, vocalist of the bands Carmen and The Ergon Carousal, was brought in as his replacement.[23] In December 2009, Terrorizer ranked World Extermination at number 46 on their "Albums of the Decade" list.[24]

In January 2016, Insect Warfare reunited with Geramifar.[22][25] They played a reunion show in Houston on July 2, 2016,[26] prior to (what was announced as) their final performance ever at the Obscene Extreme festival in Trutnov, Czech Republic, on July 15, 2016.[25][27] Despite this, Insect Warfare reformed once more to play their final show in May 2017.[28][29]

Musical style and influences

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Beasely cited albums such as Napalm Death's From Enslavement to Obliteration and Discordance Axis' Jouhou as influences.[4][30]

Band members

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Final lineup

  • Rahi Geramifar – vocals (2004–2008, 2016, 2017)
  • Beau Beasley – guitars, studio bass, noise pedals (2004–2009, 2016, 2017)
  • Dobber Beverly – drums (2006–2009, 2016, 2017)
  • Alex Hughes – touring bassist (2007–2008, 2016, 2017)[29]

Past members

  • Neal Dossey – guitars (2004–2006)
  • Frank Faerman – drums (2004–2006)
  • Chris Grenfell – vocals (2009)[23]

Discography

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Studio albums

Compilation albums

  • Endless Execution Thru Violent Restitution (2006)
  • Entomological Siege 2004/2009 (2019)

EPs

  • At War With Grindcore (2005)
  • Evolved into Obliteration (2007)
  • Fuck HPMA (2008)
  • Noise Grind Power Death (2009)

Split EPs

  • Insect Warfare / Hatred Surge (2006)
  • Boltstein / Insect Warfare (2006)
  • Insect Warfare / Carcass Grinder (2007)
  • Insect Warfare / Agoraphobic Nosebleed (2008)
  • Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in the Dilapidation / Insect Warfare (2009)
  • Napalm Death / Insect Warfare (2013)

Demos

  • Gulf Coast Infestation (2004)

References

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  1. ^ "Intervju: Beau (Insect Warfare) - ISK WEB MAGAZIN". March 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  2. ^ Stick, Andy (January 2007). "Insect Warfare". Short, Fast & Loud. No. 17 (published 2007). pp. 19–22 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "Insect Warfare Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Gray, Chris (September 23, 2009). "Exterminated". Houston Press (Full Text). Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  5. ^ "Insect Warfare get new drummer - Comments". lambgoat.com. October 7, 2006. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "New releases/Available titles". 625thrash.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Gray, Chris (September 12, 2007). "Insect Warfare". Houston Press. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Hoy, Jamie (December 2007). "Records". Maximumrocknroll. No. 295. p. 123 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ "Interviews | Insect Warfare - Beau Beasley". Global Domination. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  10. ^ "Insect Warfare". Free Press Houston. February 1, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  11. ^ Press, Houston (July 30, 2007). "Last Night: The Houston Press Music Awards Showcase, Part Two". Houston Press. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  12. ^ "Insect Warfare - New Songs Posted Online". smnnews.com. December 12, 2007. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Insect Warfare Post New Song Online". smnnews.com. May 9, 2008. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "Insect Warfare tour (Australia)". lambgoat.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "Insect Warfare Call It Quits". Metalunderground.com. April 20, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  16. ^ "Dude Fest (IN) line-up finalized - Comments". lambgoat.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  17. ^ Gibb, Ewan (2009). "INSECT WARFARE | Interview with Beau of the US Grindcore band INSECT WARFARE". Diabolical Conquest. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  18. ^ "Agoraphobic Nosebleed / Insect Warfare Team Up For Split". smnnews.com. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  19. ^ Ustel, Scott (February 22, 2009). "AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED / INSECT WARFARE 'split' Album Review". lambgoat.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Blabbermouth.net (December 10, 2008). "Earache To Reissue Insect Warfare's 'World Extermination'". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  21. ^ BraveWords (August 10, 2009). "Insect Warfare Reunite For UK Tour". bravewords.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Whelan, Kez (April 19, 2016). "Insect Warfare Explain Reasons For Reuniting". Terrorizer. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Hoare, James (December 2009). "Instinct of Revival". Terrorizer. No. 191. Dark Arts Ltd. pp. 54–56.
  24. ^ "Critical Mass: Terrorizer Critics' Albums of the Decade". Terrorizer's Secret History (The Decade). No. 2. UK: Dark Arts Ltd. December 2009. p. 51.
  25. ^ a b Invisible Oranges Staff (January 21, 2016). "Insect Warfare are back!". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  26. ^ "One Last Night with Insect Warfare". The Toilet Ov Hell. July 6, 2016. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  27. ^ goodguysgogrind (August 9, 2016). "Insect Warfare (09.08.16)". Good Guys Go Grind. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  28. ^ "Insect Warfare suck at breaking up". The Toilet Ov Hell. April 6, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  29. ^ a b Pratt, Greg (November 2023). "Locust Abortion Technicians: The Making of Insect Warfare's World Extermination". Decibel. No. 229. Red Flag Media, Inc. pp. 50–52, 54, 56, 58, 60.
  30. ^ Toftness, Will (Winter 2008). "Insect Warfare". Noise Reduction. No. 1. Retrieved August 21, 2023 – via Internet Archive.