Insect Warfare

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Insect Warfare

| origin = Houston, Texas, U.S.

| genre = Grindcore

| years_active = 2004–2008/2025-present
{{small|(Reunions: 2009, 2016, 2017)}}

| label = {{flatlist|

625 Thrashcore
Earache

}}

| past_members = * Rahi Geramifar

Beau Beasley
Frank Faerman
Alex Hughes
Neal Dossey
Dobber Beverly
Chris Grenfell

| website = {{URL|http://insectwarfare.blogspot.com/}}

}}

Insect Warfare was an American grindcore band from Houston, Texas.{{Cite web |date=2008-03-30 |title=Intervju: Beau (Insect Warfare) - ISK WEB MAGAZIN |url=https://izvansvakekontrole.com/intervju-beau-insect-warfare/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821103441/https://izvansvakekontrole.com/intervju-beau-insect-warfare/ |url-status=live }}

History

Insect Warfare was originally founded in 2000 as a solo project of vocalist Rahi Geramifar, before turning into a proper band in 2004.{{Cite magazine |last=Stick |first=Andy |date=January 2007 |title=Insect Warfare |url=https://archive.org/details/short_fast_loud_17/page/n19 |magazine=Short, Fast & Loud |publication-date=2007 |issue=17 |pages=19–22 |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web |title=Insect Warfare Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/insect-warfare-mn0001000990/biography |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=AllMusic |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100516/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/insect-warfare-mn0001000990/biography |url-status=live }} 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. In October 2006, the band replaced Faerman with Dobber Beverly.{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2006 |title=Insect Warfare get new drummer - Comments |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/7583/insect-warfare-get-new-drummer/comments/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100516/https://lambgoat.com/news/7583/insect-warfare-get-new-drummer/comments/ |url-status=live }}

Insect Warfare's only full-length album, World Extermination, was released on September 10, 2007, through 625 Thrashcore Records.{{Cite web |date= |title=New releases/Available titles |url=http://www.625thrash.com/new.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032538/http://www.625thrash.com/new.shtml |archive-date=2007-09-27 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=625thrash.com}}{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Chris |date=September 12, 2007 |title=Insect Warfare |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/insect-warfare-6542979 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Houston Press |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100516/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/insect-warfare-6542979 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Hoy |first=Jamie |date=December 2007 |title=Records |url=https://archive.org/details/mrr_295/page/n123 |magazine=Maximumrocknroll |issue=295 |page=123 |via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Interviews {{!}} Insect Warfare - Beau Beasley |url=http://www.globaldomination.se/interviews/insect-warfare-beau-beasley |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207062946/http://www.globaldomination.se/interviews/insect-warfare-beau-beasley |archive-date=2008-02-07 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Global Domination}} The band recorded the album in a single day.{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2008 |title=Insect Warfare |url=https://freepresshouston.com/music/insect-warfare/../../music/insect-warfare/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Free Press Houston |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100515/https://freepresshouston.com/music/insect-warfare/ |url-status=live }} At the 2007 Houston Press Music Awards, Insect Warfare's set was cut short after only five minutes by the sound engineer.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Houston |date=July 30, 2007 |title=Last Night: The Houston Press Music Awards Showcase, Part Two |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/last-night-the-houston-press-music-awards-showcase-part-two-6769504 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Houston Press |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821103438/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/last-night-the-houston-press-music-awards-showcase-part-two-6769504 |url-status=live }} This incident led to the release of the Fuck HPMA EP in early 2008. In December 2007, Insect Warfare released two unmastered songs, "Information Economy" and "Cancer of Oppression", through their MySpace page.{{Cite web |date=2007-12-12 |title=Insect Warfare - New Songs Posted Online |url=http://www.smnnews.com:80/2007/12/12/insect-warfare-new-songs-posted-online-3/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216191412/http://www.smnnews.com:80/2007/12/12/insect-warfare-new-songs-posted-online-3/ |archive-date=2007-12-16 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=smnnews.com}}{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2008 |title=Insect Warfare Post New Song Online |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2008/05/09/insect-warfare-post-new-song-online/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514003908/http://www.smnnews.com/2008/05/09/insect-warfare-post-new-song-online/ |archive-date=2008-05-14 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=smnnews.com}} In early 2008, the band toured Australia with Agents of Abhorrence.{{Cite web |title=Insect Warfare tour (Australia) |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/9731/insect-warfare-tour-australia/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100515/https://lambgoat.com/news/9731/insect-warfare-tour-australia/ |url-status=live }} Insect Warfare would break up following their performance at the Dude Festival in Indianapolis on June 21, 2008,{{Cite web |date=April 20, 2008 |title=Insect Warfare Call It Quits |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=35946 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Metalunderground.com |language=English |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821103814/http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=35946 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Dude Fest (IN) line-up finalized - Comments |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/10639/dude-fest-in-line-up-finalized/comments/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100514/https://lambgoat.com/news/10639/dude-fest-in-line-up-finalized/comments/ |url-status=live }} owing to Beasley's exhaustion with the band.{{Cite web |last=Gibb |first=Ewan |date=2009 |title=INSECT WARFARE {{!}} Interview with Beau of the US Grindcore band INSECT WARFARE |url=http://diabolicalconquest.com/interviews/insect_warfare.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314220754/http://diabolicalconquest.com/interviews/insect_warfare.htm |archive-date=2010-03-14 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Diabolical Conquest}}

Following their disbandment, Insect Warfare posthumously released a split EP with Agoraphobic Nosebleed on November 4, 2008.{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2008 |title=Agoraphobic Nosebleed / Insect Warfare Team Up For Split |url=http://www.smnnews.com/2008/11/04/agoraphobic-nosebleed-insect-warfare-team-up-for-split/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215125853/http://www.smnnews.com/2008/11/04/agoraphobic-nosebleed-insect-warfare-team-up-for-split/ |archive-date=2013-02-15 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=smnnews.com}}{{Cite web |last=Ustel |first=Scott |date=February 22, 2009 |title=AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED / INSECT WARFARE 'split' Album Review |url=https://lambgoat.com/albums/2724/agoraphobic-nosebleed-split/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=lambgoat.com |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821103438/https://lambgoat.com/albums/2724/agoraphobic-nosebleed-split/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Chris |date=September 23, 2009 |title=Exterminated |url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/exterminated-6574113?showFullText=true |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Houston Press |language=en |type=Full Text |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821103438/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/exterminated-6574113?showFullText=true |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth.net |date=2008-12-10 |title=Earache To Reissue Insect Warfare's 'World Extermination' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/earache-to-reissue-insect-warfare-s-world-extermination/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Blabbermouth.net |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100517/https://blabbermouth.net/news/earache-to-reissue-insect-warfare-s-world-extermination |url-status=live }} Earache subsequently reissued the album on March 2, 2009. In October 2009, Insect Warfare toured the United Kingdom and Ireland.{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |date=August 10, 2009 |title=Insect Warfare Reunite For UK Tour |url=https://bravewords.com/news/insect-warfare-reunite-for-uk-tour |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100516/https://bravewords.com/news/insect-warfare-reunite-for-uk-tour |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Whelan |first=Kez |date=2016-04-19 |title=Insect Warfare Explain Reasons For Reuniting |url=http://www.terrorizer.com/news/features-2/insect-warfare-explain-reasons-reuniting/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821105628/http://www.terrorizer.com/news/features-2/insect-warfare-explain-reasons-reuniting/ |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Terrorizer |language=en-GB}} 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.{{Cite magazine |last=Hoare |first=James |date=December 2009 |title=Instinct of Revival |magazine=Terrorizer |publisher=Dark Arts Ltd. |issue=191 |pages=54-56}} In December 2009, Terrorizer ranked World Extermination at number 46 on their "Albums of the Decade" list.{{cite magazine |date=December 2009 |title=Critical Mass: Terrorizer Critics' Albums of the Decade |magazine=Terrorizer's Secret History |type=The Decade |location=UK |publisher=Dark Arts Ltd |issue=2 |page=51}}

In January 2016, Insect Warfare reunited with Geramifar. They played a reunion show in Houston on July 2, 2016,{{Cite web |date=2016-07-06 |title=One Last Night with Insect Warfare |url=https://toiletovhell.com/one-last-night-with-insect-warfare/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=The Toilet Ov Hell |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100516/https://toiletovhell.com/one-last-night-with-insect-warfare/ |url-status=live }} prior to (what was announced as) their final performance ever at the Obscene Extreme festival in Trutnov, Czech Republic, on July 15, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Invisible Oranges Staff |first= |date=2016-01-21 |title=Insect Warfare are back! |url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/insect-warfare-are-back/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Invisible Oranges |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100514/https://www.invisibleoranges.com/insect-warfare-are-back/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=goodguysgogrind |date=2016-08-09 |title=Insect Warfare (09.08.16) |url=https://goodguysgogrind.com/2016/08/09/insect-warfare-09-08-16/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Good Guys Go Grind |language=en |archive-date=August 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230821100516/https://goodguysgogrind.com/2016/08/09/insect-warfare-09-08-16/ |url-status=live }} Despite this, Insect Warfare reformed once more to play their final show in May 2017.{{Cite web |date=2017-04-06 |title=Insect Warfare suck at breaking up |url=https://toiletovhell.com/insect-warfare-suck-at-breaking-up/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=The Toilet Ov Hell |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Pratt |first=Greg |date=November 2023 |title=Locust Abortion Technicians: The Making of Insect Warfare's World Extermination |magazine=Decibel |publisher=Red Flag Media, Inc. |issue=229 |pages=50–52, 54, 56, 58, 60}}

Musical style and influences

Beasely cited albums such as Napalm Death's From Enslavement to Obliteration and Discordance Axis' Jouhou as influences.{{Cite magazine |last=Toftness |first=Will |date=Winter 2008 |title=Insect Warfare |url=https://archive.org/details/noise_reduction_01/page/n9/ |magazine=Noise Reduction |issue=1 |access-date=August 21, 2023 |via=Internet Archive}}