Maybe it's just the force of nature, but every
time a new Suffocation
record is released, I tend to put everything else on hold for about a week.
Such was the case with their sixth full-length, “Blood Oath.”
They got right down to business on the first track with a Morbid Angel-style
riff accompanied by some nasty drum footwork. From there on resides what
you'd pretty much expect from this NYC quintet... brutality!! There is so
much more in the way of catchiness, but also fairly technical at the same
time. Not as technical as say- “Pierced From Within,” but as
catchy as the “Despise the Sun” EP. On the other hand, there
are more breaks in the songs, which might beg the question, “What
the hell am I talking about?” Mike Smith’s technique has never
sounded better than it does here and there seem to be fewer riffs incorporated
in each song. However, everything done this time around sounds far more
deliberate or "to-the-point" than any previous Suffocation album.
To throw it all into perspective, personally, this is my favorite Suffocation
album since “Pierced From Within!” Mr. Mullen sounds better,
the production sounds fuller and heavier, the drumming has never been better,
the artwork is phenomenal and lastly, nearly every track is a memorable
one. “Blood Oath” can be slated as an old-school death metal
album as well as an album trying to set the bar just a little higher. Fantastic!
Rating: 93
Reviewed By: Thomas Mitchell |
