Fading Out

Fading Out was one of the more prominent bands on Louisville, KY's first-wave punk scene, the latter stages of which fostered Squirrel Bait and subsequently, though perhaps indirectly, all the post-rock and high-concept roots rock that followed from the area. Most of the members of Fading Out started out in Malignant Growth, the first hardcore thrash band in Louisville. By the mid-'80s, Malignant Growth had added on drums Sean Mulhall of local peers the Babylon Dance Band, slowed down their rhythms, and changed their name to Fading Out. In 1985 they recorded a self-titled album that didn't see proper release until 1996 on Will Oldham's Palace Records. Consisting of frontman Brett Ralph, guitarist Mark Abromavage, bassist Chris Abromavage, and Mulhall on drums, the band's music is equal parts Black Flag hardcore aggression and Black Sabbath metal tempo changes, while the lyrics run the gamut from self-lacerating introspection to snotty romantic and social commentaries, themes typical of the era, although crafted with atypical clarity and depth of sensibility. Fading Out holds up so well and even comes off so anticipatory of much '90s punk/metal that it's somewhat surprising the album didn't get snatched up by an indie label at the time. Subsequent to recording their sole album, the members of Fading Out dispersed. Frontman Brett Ralph, performing as Rising Shotgun, is the only one who's since been heard from musically, splitting a single with fellow Louisville native Will Oldham covering David Allen Coe songs. ~ Demetri Lallas, All Music Guide