Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam (2013)

Suffocation are widely recognized major innovators of death metal. They had a massive influence on the genre and pioneered the balance between brutal and technical sounds commonly heard in modern death metal. Frank Mullen is considered as one of the most emblematic death metal vocalists as well as one of the first to use a very deep "death growl" vocal style.

There was an earlier "incarnation" of Suffocation existing from 1988 to around 1990 which featured vocalist Frank Mullen, bassist Josh Barohn, guitarists Guy Marchais and Todd German and Barohn's friend on drums. By 1990, the band had hired guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Doug Cerrito along with drummer Mike Smith, members of the local band Mortuary which had already disbanded.

The band split-up after Despise the Sun and reformed in 2002 with some line-up changes. Doug Cerrito was asked to join when the band reformed, but apparently he wasn't interested. Mike Smith left the band again in 2012 due to personal differences with other members and was replaced by Dave Culross (who had previously played with the band on Despise the Sun). Culross was later replaced by Kevin Talley.

-Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Cycles of Suffering     03:56
2. Purgatorial Punishment    02:45
3. Eminent Wrath     03:40
4. As Grace Descends     03:05
5. Sullen Days     04:57

Side B:
6. Pinnacle of Bedlam     03:43
7. My Demise     04:04
8. Inversion     03:50
9. Rapture of Revocation   03:49
10. Beginning of Sorrow   04:33

 

-Line up:

 • Guy Marchais: Guitars, songwriting (tracks 2, 7, 9)

• Derek Boyer: Songwriting (tracks 8, 9), lyrics (tracks 1-8), bass

• Frank Mullen: Vocals, lyrics (track 9)
• Terrance Hobbs: Guitars, Lyrics (tracks 5, 6), songwriting (tracks 1-6, 8, 9)
• Dave Culross: Drums.

 

 

 

Label: Nuclear Blast.

 

 Recorded at Full Force Studio .

Artwork by Raymond Swanland.

Mixed & mastered by Zeuss.

"Beginning of Sorrow" is a re-recorded song from the Breeding the Spawn album.
This is not a full concept album but is inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead and the cycles of life and death.

 Produced by Joe Cincotta and Suffocation at Full Force Studios in New York.

Limited to 1000 orange with black splatter vinyl (Nuclear Blast mailorder exclusive).