Great Punk/Metal Albums of 1986: Dayglo Abortions: Feed Us a Fetus

The success of thrash metal in 1986 prompted a lot of punk bands to cross over into heavy metal. However, no band did it better that year than Canada’s Dayglo Abortions. What was once known as hardcore punk won over many metalheads, like me, who were getting heavily into thrash.
One song which highlights the successful crossover is “Argh, Fuck Kill.” What I love here is the fact that they took all the stereotypes people had about punk and thrash and made a song out of it. The main lyrics of the song simply go, “Blah, blah blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah” until the shouting of the title in the chorus. It has been said that those three words are the most common in punk songs. Therefore the Dayglo Abortions take those stereotypes and make fun of them in a cool hardcore way.
That is the great thing about “Feed Us a Fetus,” it makes fun of lots of things, especially all the things I found wrong with 80s Reagan America. A definite target is religion, actually the rise of the TV evangelists which seemed to dominate Sunday morning television back then. “Die Sinner Die” and “Religious Bumfucks” tackle it very well. America itself is also targeted via songs such as “Wake Up America” and “Ronald McRaygun.” On the other hand, the band takes a poke at their own country with “Proud to be a Canadian.”
Darker issues are also up for satirical scrutiny in the songs. At the time, many people were still in awe of the lyrics in Suicidal Tendencies’ “I Saw Your Mommy.” Dayglo Abortions take it even further with the song, “I Killed Mommy,” where the chorus goes: “I killed mommy with an automatic.” I don’t think that song would have gotten airplay on commercial radio. Then again, in another song, they want to kill the hosers but with the hardcore thrash sound this band produces, it all sounds good. One noteworthy piece of musicianship is on “Stupid World,” where there is a part borrowed from the Led Zeppelin classic, “Whole Lotta Love.”
With twenty-four songs in less than forty-four minutes, one might think the album goes by in a blur. Not with these songs, each one is unique and not enough praise is given to the band for pulling it off so well. Still, there is one song which stands out above the rest and that happens to be “Black Sabbath.” It’s not really a dig at Sabbath, although Murray Acton does sound a little like Ozzy here, okay maybe a little, after all the second verse goes:
Tony Iommi is my God, his guitar solos have been asterialized
Ozzy Osbourne is so out in space, he probably like it if I pissed in his face
In reality, I think the song simply makes fun of those who copy their favourite rock stars to the point of being a fanatic. Then again, very little is sacred when viewed through the satirical eye of the Dayglo Abortions.
Track Listing:
- Stupid Songs
- Argh, Fuck Kill
- Die Sinner Die
- My Girl
- Dogfarts
- Inside My Head
- Wake Up America
- Proud to Be Canadian
- Stupid World
- Ronald McRaygun
- Kill the Hosers
- Religious Bumfucks
- 1967
- I Killed Mommy
- I’m My Own God
- Used to Be in Love
- Suicide
- The Idiot
- Germ Attack
- Scared of People
- Black Sabbath
- I Want To Be an East Indian
- Kill Cunt Brain
- Whiter Than Hitler

‘The Cretin’ Murray Acton- guitar, vocals
Spud- bass, vocals
Jesus Bonehead- drums
“Feed Us a Fetus” by the Dayglo Abortions is not for the feint-hearted or the easily offended. I can see why they dedicated the album to Tipper Gore. But if you like some good hardcore punk/thrash and have a sense of humour, then this is the album for you.
Next post: Reflecting on Some Local Bands
To buy “Rock and Roll Children,” email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
Note: If Mike’s experiences with the book is making you reluctant to take the plunge, Steve from Every Record Tells a Story has received his copy no problem. Another copy has been posted to Mike.
August 20, 2020 at 10:10 pm
I love this band.
Cretin is still touring around with newer members.
A couple of years ago I had a good long chat with him (asked him a bunch of questions because I was planning on posting an interview but never did), and he signed all my stuff.
Really great guy and musician.
It’s a shame that the Canadian punk bands never got the fame they rightly deserved. Thanks for mentioning one of the best.
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August 20, 2020 at 10:24 pm
No problem, I’m jealous you got to meet Cretin.
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August 20, 2020 at 10:29 pm
I just bought an 1st Canadian pressing of Here Today Guano Tomorrow the other day too.
Now I need to meet him again and get it signed as well.
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August 20, 2020 at 10:32 pm
If I meet him again I will show him a copy of this review.
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August 21, 2020 at 12:29 pm
I would be flattered if you did and I will check out “Here Today Guano Tomorrow.”
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August 20, 2020 at 10:40 pm
I approve of the Canadian content even though I have never heard this album.
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August 20, 2020 at 10:54 pm
If I have a spare copy(or another by the band) here I will send it your way.
A good Canadian boy should not be without.
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August 21, 2020 at 12:27 pm
I agree!
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August 21, 2020 at 12:28 pm
Some of your countrymen would say this was sacrilege. Like boppinsblog said, no Canadian should be without this album!
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August 21, 2020 at 5:35 am
I only know this band from Napalm Death covering em, I should check this out
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August 21, 2020 at 12:27 pm
You definitely should!
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August 21, 2020 at 9:48 am
I see Dayglos, I hit Like!
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August 21, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Me too!
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August 22, 2020 at 5:02 pm
I absolutely love the whole crossover scene – DRI and Crumbsuckers being my favourites. It’s the absolute best of both for me, I love a lot of the politics of the time too.
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August 23, 2020 at 11:37 am
They were all great!
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September 2, 2020 at 5:45 am
Whoever made this music wasn’t lying. Not sure if those people (Reagans) did it, but there is a story on YouTube of a girl who was interviewed talking about how she was abused by a satanic cult, which referenced ”eating babies.” See ”Teresa’s escape from brutal ‘satanic cult’ and bizarre rituals (1989) | 60 Minutes Australia” on Youtube.
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September 5, 2020 at 8:35 am
Sounds interesting, I might go and check it out.
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