Dystopia

ByLets Go Punk
Dystopia formed in Orange County in 1991

Dystopia was an American crust punk and sludge metal band that formed in Orange County, California in 1991. The music carried heavy riffs and heavier themes, the kind that stare down the worst parts of society without blinking. What you hear is bleak on purpose, and it resonates because the band never pulled punches.

How The Band Got Started

The band formed in 1991 in Orange County, California. Early on, the group featured vocalist Dan Kaufman and drummer Phil Martinez. That first phase set the tone for the sound to come, raw and direct.

Musical Style

Dystopia leaned into misanthropic imagery and unflinching subject matter. The lyrics focus on human emotions and social or political concerns. Common topics include environmentalism, racial equality, substance abuse, and animal rights. The presentation matches the content, bleak and deliberate.

Members

  • Todd Kiessling, bass, also associated with Confrontation, Mange, Agrimony, Kontraklasse, Sour Vein, Screaming Fetus, Sex Powers
  • Matt “Mauz” Parrillo, guitar, vocals, samples, also associated with Cantankerous, Mindrot, Medication Time, Nigel Pepper Cock, Drain the Sky, John the Baker and the Malnourished, Kicker, Tension Span
  • Anthony “Dino” Sommese, drums, vocals, also associated with Carcinogen, Ghoul, Asunder, Lachrymose, Insidious, Noothgrush, Deadform

Previous Members

  • Dan Kaufman, vocals, 1991-1993, also associated with Mindrot, Eyes of Fire, Destroy Judas
  • Phil Martinez, drums, 1991, also associated with Phobia, Apocalypse

Discography

Studio albums, EPs, and splits tell the story in stages. The titles here show the arc from early recordings to a final self-titled statement.

Studio Albums

  • 1994, Human = Garbage, 12-inch, Life Is Abuse and Misanthropic Records
  • 1999, The Aftermath, 12-inch, Life Is Abuse and Misanthropic Records
  • 2008, Dystopia, CD and LP, Life Is Abuse

EPs

  • 1997, Backstabber, 7-inch, Life Is Abuse, Misanthropic Records, Common Cause

Live Albums

  • 1992, Live in the Studio, demo tape, self-released

Splits

  • 1993, Dystopia / Grief, 7-inch, Life Is Abuse and Misanthropic Records
  • 1993, Dystopia / Embittered, 12-inch, Life Is Abuse and Misanthropic Records
  • 1995, Dystopia / Suffering Luna, 7-inch, Life Is Abuse and Misanthropic Records
  • 1996, Dystopia / Skaven, 12-inch, Life Is Abuse and Misanthropic Records
  • 2001, Twin Threat to Your Sanity, Bongzilla, Noothgrush, Corrupted, Dystopia, two 7-inch records, Bad People Records

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