Year: 2023
Total Time: 41.23
Label: Nuclear Blast

When we talk about Brutal Death Metal and SUFFOCATION’s new album what exactly are you waiting for?? You just press the “play” button while the band, from the first second, launches air-to-ground missiles in every direction but mainly towards your ears. SUFFOCATION are not newcomers in the scene as they have been counting a few decades of continuous discography.

Without wanting to sound too much excited, the album just reaps what it finds in front of it as soon as it begins. SUFFOCATION, without mercy, hammered relentlessly for 41 minutes. The vocals of Ricky Myers are as if they are taken out of a swamp that you would be afraid to approach, so the absence of his predecessor Frank Mullen is not really noticeable. The guitars of Terrance Hobbs and Charlie Errigo are, as always, of high levels with nice small solos that don’t get you tired or distract you in any way. Also, the bass of Derek Boyer accompanies the compositions perfectly while Eric Morotti makes you think that you are in a battlefield with his relentless drums. Worth mentioning is also the cover of the album, which was created by Yannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design.

Lyrically, the album moves in dark paths, analyzing everything that has to do with religions and it condemns them in every opportunity. References are made to the Scriptures and the deception that mankind has been subjected to by (false) religions and the price that humans pay when they follow them. It debunks theories and opinions on what they call sin and also strongly emphasizes the futility of living with ideological-religious blinders because the only certainty for everyone is DEATH! Of course, an album of SUFFOCATION could not exist without any references to bloodshed, beheadings and the torture of the body, but especially the soul!

To close the chapter SUFFOCATION and “Hymns From The Apocrypha” we could say that the album is a classic Death Metal album for listeners who like this particular genre. It’s not for metalheads with sensitive ears or for listeners who are easily shocked by the lyrical content referred before. For those who are initiated in Death Metal it is highly recommended!!!

Rating: 7/10
Editor: Andreas Fytros
Related Link: SUFFOCATION – Official Page