Suicide Silence - The Cleansing
Century Media - CD9977342 - 19 February 2008
By Paddy Walsh
One of the more hotly touted bands of the oft-maligned 'deathcore' movement, this Californian fivesome at least boast myriad influences, from death metal, grind, black metal, hardcore and even doom. It's thus a little disappointing on first listen that The Cleansing seems as though it could have come from any of its creator's contemporaries; except on further inspection that's not really the case. A few listens on and you might start to see what the band was harping on about. Sure, the slower passages barely warrant a tag of 'doom influenced', such as can be heard throughout 'Unanswered' and 'Hands of a Killer'. Yet the tail end of 'The Fallen' exhibits a gloriously epic pseudo-black metal workout, and little moments of potential greatness tend to pepper this release. Elsewhere it's business as usual, and if you've been gobbling up releases by the likes of Whitechapel, Job for a Cowboy and Despised Icon these past couple of years you'll likely want to check out these bruisers too. All the requisite elements for the genre are present and correct; death metal growls interspered and overlayed with grindcore screams that at times have a tinge of hardcore shoutiness to them, pinch harmonics that would make Dimebag Darrell blush in his grave, and a somewhat dry production (courtesy of Tue Madsen) that threatens to suck the life out of proceedings. Nevertheless, Suicide Silence are adept and show plenty of potential on their debut, and a further elaboration on their more unconventional aspects will do wonders for their future prospects.
Official Suicide Silence Website
Official Suicide Silence MySpace
Official Century Media Website
Century Media - CD9977342 - 19 February 2008
By Paddy Walsh
One of the more hotly touted bands of the oft-maligned 'deathcore' movement, this Californian fivesome at least boast myriad influences, from death metal, grind, black metal, hardcore and even doom. It's thus a little disappointing on first listen that The Cleansing seems as though it could have come from any of its creator's contemporaries; except on further inspection that's not really the case. A few listens on and you might start to see what the band was harping on about. Sure, the slower passages barely warrant a tag of 'doom influenced', such as can be heard throughout 'Unanswered' and 'Hands of a Killer'. Yet the tail end of 'The Fallen' exhibits a gloriously epic pseudo-black metal workout, and little moments of potential greatness tend to pepper this release. Elsewhere it's business as usual, and if you've been gobbling up releases by the likes of Whitechapel, Job for a Cowboy and Despised Icon these past couple of years you'll likely want to check out these bruisers too. All the requisite elements for the genre are present and correct; death metal growls interspered and overlayed with grindcore screams that at times have a tinge of hardcore shoutiness to them, pinch harmonics that would make Dimebag Darrell blush in his grave, and a somewhat dry production (courtesy of Tue Madsen) that threatens to suck the life out of proceedings. Nevertheless, Suicide Silence are adept and show plenty of potential on their debut, and a further elaboration on their more unconventional aspects will do wonders for their future prospects.
Official Suicide Silence Website
Official Suicide Silence MySpace
Official Century Media Website
