Bird Eater

Lore & Background

Bird Eater formed in Utah in 2005. The band's debut EP, Utah, was released in 2007 on Exigent Records and was their only release to feature Jon Parkin on both bass and vocals. In 2009, Oz Inglorious joined to take over bass duties. The band recorded the album Dead Mothers Make the Sun Set (DMMTSS) with engineer Andy Patterson, and it was released on Black Market Activities in February 2014 after nearly three years of delays between recording and release. DMMTSS was issued as a limited edition vinyl pressing and digitally.

Reader's Guide

Bird Eater occupies a distinctive niche within metalcore, blending the genre with what fans, peers, and critics have termed 'western death metal' through dark country influences and western-themed artwork. Their 2014 full-length album Dead Mothers Make the Sun Set, recorded with engineer Andy Patterson and released on Black Market Activities, represents their most significant output after a lengthy delay. The band's early work, the 2007 EP Utah on Exigent Records, is notable as the only recording featuring Jon Parkin handling both bass and vocals. While the band has not achieved widespread mainstream recognition, their unique stylistic fusion and limited discography have garnered attention within underground metal circles, as evidenced by references in publications such as Deaf Sparrow and Salt Lake City Weekly. Their legacy is tied to their singular approach to metalcore and the cult status of their limited-edition vinyl release.

Did You Know?

• The band's album Dead Mothers Make the Sun Set was released in February 2014 after nearly three years of delays.
• Bird Eater has been described by fans, peers, and critics as 'western death metal' due to their dark country vibes and western-themed artwork.
• The band's bassist Oz Inglorious joined in 2009, replacing Jon Parkin on bass.

Origins & Genre Identity

Bird Eater emerged from Utah in 2005 as a five-piece metalcore outfit, but their sound quickly carved out a lane no one else occupied. Rather than following the standard trajectory of the genre, the band wove dark country textures and distinctly western imagery into their heavy riffs and aggressive vocal delivery. This fusion earned them a unique label from fans, fellow musicians, and critics alike: western death metal. The aesthetic commitment runs deep, extending beyond the music into their visual presentation, with artwork that leans heavily into western motifs. In a scene where metalcore bands often chase similar sonic palettes, Bird Eater's deliberate embrace of country-inflected darkness set them apart almost immediately. Their roots in the Utah landscape seem inseparable from the identity they built, creating a sound that feels as much of a place as it does of a genre. This identity has remained a constant through every member change and every release since the band first started playing together.

Lineup Evolution

The personnel of Bird Eater has shifted over the years, but the core identity has held steady. At the time of their 2007 debut EP, vocalist Jon Parkin also handled bass duties, making him the only member to occupy two instrumental roles in the band's history. That arrangement lasted until 2009, when the group brought in Oz Inglorious to assume the bass chair, freeing Parkin to focus solely on vocals. The current five-piece lineup features Jon Parkin on lead vocals, Chris Clement and Anthony Lucero sharing guitar duties with both also contributing backing vocals, Oz Inglorious on bass, and Kel Prime behind the drums. Lucero additionally takes on the role of creating the band's artwork, tying the visual western aesthetic directly to the musical output. This division of labor means the band's sound and imagery are shaped by a tight-knit group of five individuals who have collectively carried the project from its 2005 inception through its recorded output to date.

The Debut EP & Early Footprint

Bird Eater's first recorded output was the EP titled Utah, captured in 2007 and issued through Exigent Records. This release holds a particular place in the band's history as the only one to feature Jon Parkin simultaneously handling both bass and lead vocals, a dual role he would not maintain once Oz Inglorious joined two years later. The EP served as the band's introduction to the wider metalcore and death metal communities, establishing the dark country-inflected sound that would define their identity going forward. Released on a smaller label, the EP represented the band's first step from the rehearsal room into the broader recording world. It set the template for everything that followed, including the western-themed aesthetic and the heavy, atmospheric approach that critics and peers would later categorize under the banner of western death metal. For listeners encountering the band for the first time, this EP remains the foundational document of their artistic vision.

Dead Mothers Make the Sun Set & the Long Road to Release

The band's full-length album, Dead Mothers Make the Sun Set, represents one of the more turbulent chapters in their discography. Working with engineer Andy Patterson, the group recorded the material but faced a grueling delay of nearly three years between the completion of the sessions and the actual release. The record finally arrived in February 2014 through Black Market Activities, a label that gave the project a wider platform than the smaller Exigent Records imprint that had handled the 2007 EP. The album was made available both as a limited-edition vinyl pressing and in digital format, catering to collectors and casual listeners alike. The long wait between recording and release speaks to the challenges of independent metal bands navigating the logistics of getting a finished product into the world. Despite the delays, DMMTSS stands as the band's most substantial statement to date, a full-length work that carries the weight of three years of anticipation and solidifies their place in the western death metal niche.