Fear of God

In the early 1990s Fear of God emerged after the dissolution of Détente, the ferocious metal outfit fronted by the volatile and unsettled singer Dawn Crosby. Her well-known volatility produced constant personnel turnover across both projects, even though her magnetic stage presence continued to draw industry notice. Late in Détente’s existence guitarist Michael Carlino entered the fold; he and Crosby soon forged a close personal and creative alliance. Recognizing that their evolving sound required a fresh vehicle, they launched Fear of God. After relocating to the East Coast they laid down the project’s initial demos in 1989 alongside drummer Rob Hunter, still using the Détente name while courting Warner Bros. Once signed, the label mandated the name change and Hunter departed, yielding his drum stool to Steve Cordova. The first stable Fear of God configuration therefore comprised Cordova, former Détente bassist Blair Darby, Carlino, and Crosby. Their debut album Within the Veil appeared on Warner Bros. in 1991 and remains the artistic summit for everyone involved. Having weathered years of obscurity, internal strife, and a revolving cast of players, Crosby and Carlino finally coalesced around a striking goth-metal statement that listeners have since hailed as both masterful and unjustly overlooked. Carlino’s incisive songcraft and guitar work meshed flawlessly with Crosby’s plaintive, haunted delivery; apart, each artist has proven only average, yet together they generated an unmistakable dark chemistry. Following a short promotional tour, old tensions resurfaced and Cordova exited after clashing with Crosby. Brendan Etter took over drums while bassist Jason Levin replaced Darby. The newcomers injected fresh energy that excited Warner Bros., which promptly green-lit a follow-up session in 1992. Although the instrumental tracks were completed, Crosby proved unable to lay down vocals because of deteriorating health and substance issues. Warner Bros. and Carlino soon withdrew support. Crosby nevertheless assembled an entirely new touring version of Fear of God and pivoted stylistically once more. Pavement Records eventually signed this heavier, near-death-metal incarnation, which, though proficient, lacked the singular spark of the Carlino era. A wholly different supporting cast plus Crosby tracked the 1994 Pavement release Toxic Voodoo with guitarists Chris Kalandras and Randy Bobzienon, bassist Rob Michaelon, drummer John Grdenon, and keyboardist David Smadbeck. During those sessions Crosby confronted further personal difficulties that she appeared to surmount. Additional lineup upheaval followed, Pavement dropped the act, and subsequent attempts to secure another deal failed; it had become evident that Crosby’s gifts only flourished alongside Carlino. The pair, once romantically involved, never resumed collaboration, leaving the band without prospects. Carlino ultimately exited the music industry. Dawn Crosby succumbed to acute liver failure on December 15, 1996.