For music listeners, the experience of hearing death metal’s ridiculously fast tempos and brutal growling vocals can be a polarizing one.

Paul Ryan, guitarist and founding member of Kansas-based death metal quintet Origin, says the band wouldn’t have it any other way.

“There are people who love us and people who don’t, and that’s how we like it,” Ryan says.

The band recently released its third album for Relapse Records, “Echoes of Decimation.”

Ryan says recent shifts in Origin’s lineup have lead to the band’s most extreme recording to date.

“New members and returning former members have changed the sound,” Ryan says. “Each has his own identity.”

After many personnel changes within the band, Origin’s lineup finally solidified in late 2003. The guitarist says conflicting personalities often led to the introduction of new band members.

“Usually it’s just personal issues, but we all get along now,” Ryan says.

Once the membership of Origin coalesced, Ryan says, the band entered the studio to record “Echoes of Decimation” with a new sense of purpose.

“We had to come back out and prove it once again,” Ryan says. “This is who we are and this is what we do.”

Ryan says one of the main differences between “Echoes of Decimation” and previous Origin albums is although the different members of the band contribute to the group’s multi-layered vocal attack, lead singer James Lee recorded all of the disc’s vocals single-handedly.

“It brings the spotlight to James — he’s got a great voice for death metal,” Ryan says.

In the live setting, however, vocal duties are divided between Lee, Ryan, guitarist Clint Appelhanz and bassist Mike Flores. Ryan says Origin’s four-pronged vocal attack often comes as a surprise to heavy music fans.

“It’s something I’ve never seen before,” Ryan says. “We’re trying to do something new musically and performance-wise. It has it’s own shock value.”

Playing and handling vocal duties can be a considerable challenge, Ryan says. A rigorous practice schedule is the key component to Origin’s ability to play fast, technical death metal during a lengthy tour.

“You have to practice every day,” he says. “It’s like being a long-distance runner. You really have to work.”

In addition to being members of a touring band, the boys all have full-time jobs. Ryan says although trying to balance personal lives and band obligations can be stressful, being able to play live is well worth it.

“It’s essential to me to go out there and tour,” Ryan says.

“It definitely puts a strain on us, but it’s something we enjoy doing.”

Ryan says Origin enjoys its share of partying while on the road, but the band never does anything to jeopardize its live performance. This includes staying sober until after the show.

“If you burn the candle at both ends, you’re going to get burnt,” Ryan says.

“We’re definitely business before pleasure. There’s no way I could play this stuff without a straight mind.”

Although the members of Origin try to avoid getting too crazy before they hit the stage, Ryan says the band’s fans have no problem making up for it.

“Unfortunately there’s a lot of violence,” Ryan says.

“Some of the pits are unbelievable. Sometimes they start moshing before we’ve even hit a note.”

What: Origin, Vice Grip Throttle, The Cassandra Disease

Where: Hairy Mary’s; 2307 University Ave., Des Moines

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Cost: TBA