Suffocation, Suffocation

In 2004 we saw the return of Suffocation after a brief 6 year hiatus from the death metal world. Back also, was Mike Smith — one of the premiere drummers of our time. I remember hearing him on Breeding the Spawn and just being absolutely floored. While 2004’s Souls to Deny felt more like a warm up lap as the band returned from their break, their latest release sees the band well versed with each other again and able to pull off one of the more devastating releases of 2006.

The band as a whole just sounds more rooted in their older material as well. Frank Mullen’s vocals are not as raspy as they were on Souls. He’s got full command of his voice and it sounds like he’s got the old Human Waste indecipherable, guttural growls back as well. Mike Smith is ridiculous no drums, returning to the top of the genre in terms of his originality and technical prowess. Derek Boyer fills in the rest of the rhythm section with sickening bass. Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais completely shred on guitars, easily hitting low end, chugging mosh as well as searing solos sure to peel the skin from your face.

Oblivion
The first track on the disc is 40 seconds of reverb and industrial crust.

Abomination Reborn
Suffocation wastes no time on this one, getting right to the point with driving riffs and pounding drums. Mullen’s vocals are pretty discernable for most of the album, but sound much better than on Souls to Deny. He tears it up toward the end with a delivery we haven’t heard from him in many years. I’m only going to say this once, and not repeat myself on every track below. Mike Smith is a freaking maniac on the drums.

Redemption
“Redemption” starts off slowly with some steel string guitar. It’s an abrupt change of pace I wouldn’t have expected so early in the album. It lasts about 35 seconds before crushing riffs and insanity on drums kick it aside. This one overall is a little more plodding and dooming than the last track.

Bind Torture Kill
If you didn’t snap a vertebrae or two towards the end of that last song, you surely will while listening to “Bind Torture Kill.” It starts off with a pretty large moshing riff. This song contains plenty of timing change ups — super sludgy, plodding riffs as well as soaring reverb injected solos and some of the quickest double bass you’ll ever hear.

Misconceived
This is one of those tracks that’s just marquee Suffocation. Its bare bones, no frills, no fluff, straight to hell death metal.

Translucent Patterns of Delirium
This one’s lyrics take us deep into Mullen’s head — probably farther than we really need to go. His lyrics are complimented with driving drums and bass and beefy riffs. I love the end on this one.

Creed of the Infidel
Here’s another classic Suffocation track. “Creed of the Infidel” has one of the more memorable choruses on the album. Mullen lets loose with his most guttural and deepest delivery so far. It ends powerfully and violently.

Regret
Chaotic drums and random growls start this one off.

Entrails of You
It’s a love song — a disturbingly sick love song. Ok, maybe not love, but more a violent obsession of the Hannibal Lector kind. It’s got some killer solos flying around as well.

The End of Ends
A thick bass line and crunching guitar get this one going. It’s got a bit of an industrial static feel to it, making it feel like the end of ends. Mullen busts our more indecipherable growls. This is probably my favorite track on the album.

Prelude to Repulsion
The final track starts off with a nasty mosh and an energized delivery on Mullen’s part. It’s an aggressive track with plenty of quick drums and teeth rattling riffs.

~ ~ ~

Suffocation is one of those bands that seems to consistently deliver no frills death metal with ease. Their latest release only adds to their legacy. I’ve found it difficult to take this disc out of rotation to make room for other stuff I’ve bought more recently. It’s just one of those albums that never gets old.

Favorite Tracks:
Abomination Reborn
Bind Torture Kill
Translucent Patterns of Delirium
Creed of the Infidel
The End of Ends

Additional Notes:
n/a