Suffocation Wreak Havoc At The Whisky-A-Go-Go

By Jason Williams

October 21st 2014, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: The word ‘legend’ can sometimes be thrown out like hotcakes on a plate. Whether it be an overhyped record, the label’s constant push, or any other factors. And only rarely does the word legend truly hold down. Brutal technical death metal pioneers and veterans Suffocation, hailing from Long Island, New York, absolutely fit the latter category, bringing to life the very first brutal death metal record, 1991’s ‘Effigy Of The Forgotten’. It continues to inspire and be recognized, as most of what was done on that album is still heavily being done by modern bands today. Returning to Southern California for the first time since spring of 2013, Suffocation headlines the Carnival of Death tour, a tour full of quality, brutality, and intensity, with Canada’s longtime hyperblast masters Kataklysm as main support. Joining along are death metal act Jungle Rot, alongside New York’s Pyrexia and Internal Bleeding. A heavy dose of extreme music would be on display at the Whisky-A-Go-Go on Sunset Blvd, and as this enthusiastic writer, whose main choice of music is the death metal genre, absolutely couldn’t wait for what would be in store.

Before the official touring lineup went under way, local melodic black/death metal band Miscreancy opened the night to a relatively decent turnout this early in the evening. Right away I noticed and which deserves major props, was drummer Eddie Andrade as also the lead vocalist. Seeing a drummer do backup vocals in this extreme genre is admiring to see as it is, but to be the the main singer? Absolute respect to him. His other bandmates were no slouches either, with the twin-guitar attack from Amos Andrade and Michael Hernandez reigning down a nice blend of black metal tremolo riffs to accompany the blasting. Although their melodies were solid, they never deviated from their death metal roots, with plenty of speedy staccato riffs as well. “Lifeless Depths” off their most recent EP ‘Remnants Of A Dark Age’ stood out to me the most from their set. Unfortunately, the double bass pedal broke in the middle of their short set, and the time it took to fix it cut into at least 1-2 songs. Compared to the rest of the bill, their style of blackened death metal did make them stand out, but in the positive aspect, as the crowd cheered and enjoyed their set. Miscreancy’s musicianship and blend was impressive, and hoping they can continue to get these support slots to get their name out.

Starting off the official lineup for The Carnival of Death tour were Internal Bleeding. Much like Pyrexia, I feel these two bands, who have been around longer than 20 years have not been perceived as highly as they should, popularity wise. It was nice to see this tour with 2 high-profile death metal bands exposing the other bands that others may not know so much about. Right into Internal Bleeding’s set, the Whisky was shown how powerful and fun live brutal death metal can really be. Vocalist Keith DeVito’s rapid-fire vocals fit the slam riffing and blasting most certainly. The crowd by this point was starting to be more active, as the pit finally came alive. “Castigo Corpus Meum ” off their newest record ‘Imperium’ truly shone, inducing a brutal slam passage that brought the house down. Headbanging and non-karate dance moshing ensued and continued through Internal Bleeding’s set, with the crowd filling up the venue further by the end of their 30-minute time on the stage. You cannot go wrong with well-made brutal slam death metal. The grooves are heavy, catchy and guarantee chaos and carnage. Internal Bleeding was met with a huge applause, and I’m now hoping their place in death metal would be recognized.

One of New York’s older and underrated gems Pyrexia was next up on the bill. A band I had been looking forward to seeing for quite some time, I knew they wouldn’t disappoint, and my assumption was absolutely confirmed. Although playing similar styles to Internal Bleeding, the main difference is that Pyrexia plays a slightly more technical style of death metal, as opposed to just mostly brutal slam. While the guitars were more than efficient, the absolutely highlight of their set, and one of the highlights of the evening, were the monstrous, down right inhuman growls of Kevin Muller. Not only were his growls sensational, but his vocal control and diction were especially splendid. I heard murmurs in the crowd during their set about his vocals as well, so it seems that others have quality taste too. During “Confrontation”, Keith DeVito from Internal Bleeding sang alongside Muller, leaving the crowd in delight. Their debut album ‘Sermon of Mockery’ was released 21 years ago, and I was thrilled to see “Inhumanity” and the title track be played. A majority of this audience was either in infancy or still in the womb when the album was released, and the material played with the solid lineup they have now, truly made the classics stand out. The audience was calling for another song as their set ended, and there were already more fans of the New York death metal scene. Pyrexia delivered even further than my expectations, and here’s to the notion to bring them back on another solid death metal package.

Set List:
01. Death Wish
02. Bludgeoned by Deformity
03. Confrontation
04. Inhumanity
05. Panzer Tank Lobotomy
06. Sermon of Mockery

Next up, Jungle Rot took the stage. As they were finished setting up, the entire venue was incredibly packed. Tuesday night or not, this tour package couldn’t be missed. Around for quite some time, Jungle Rot have been making more noise lately in the States, playing on the tour with Suffocation and Exhumed last year. Although their live setting is decent, the music itself is just too generic for my taste. However, and the same goes for their performance last time, the crowd enjoyed them very much, even breaking the law of stage diving due to the Whisky’s policy. Security didn’t seem to mind, so the fun ensued for those who participated. Vocalist, rhythm guitarist  and founder of the band Dave Matrise was attempting to get the crowd going any which way he could, and the response back was surely positive. I will say, this actually was the best I’ve seen them, mainly because their sound tonight was quite powerful and just the right volume. Newest member and drummer Remington Roberts really impressed me with his abilities, speeding up some of the songs on a monster sounding drum kit. The chorus for “Worse Case Scenario” was sung by a good portion of the crowd, a telling sign that their slots on these death metal packages are paying off for them.  While still not really doing too much for me, this was still their best performance and maybe down the line I could appreciate their standard death metal more someday.

Set List:
01. Voice Your Disgust
02. Terror Regime
03. Their Finest Hour
04. Ruthless Omnipotence
05. Utter Chaos
06. Worst Case Scenario
07. Demon Souls
08. Face Down
09. Strong Shall Survive

Photo taken from Jungle Rot facebook page

The “Northern Hyperblast” would finally begin, as the owners of that description, Kataklysm came out to a packed Whisky, ready to fire on all cylinders. Their performance at the Mirror Image Studios in Anaheim CA in April was outstanding, and I was expecting nothing less tonight. A newer classic “Like Angels Weeping (The Dark)” opened their hour-long set, to a light pit with plenty of headbanging across the horizon. Watching drummer Olivier Beaudoin perform unbelievable speeds of the blastbeat, is nothing short of wonder. Although the guitars could have been a tad higher in the mix, they sufficed. Vocalist Maurizio Iacono was in his zone, headbanging constantly while providing his trademark highs. The band announced right when the tour was confirmed, that they would pull out their older material for this tour, and they kept their word. I enjoy their material to a much higher extent from 2004’s ‘Serenity And Fire’ and anything earlier, so hearing “The Ambassador of Pain”, which feels like many years since I have, was quite nostalgic for myself and others in the crowd who were more familar with their earlier style. The highlight though was their even older albums being represented, ‘Temple of Knowledge’, and my personal favorite, ‘Prophecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate)’. “The Awakener” and “Stormlord” were songs that I haven’t heard live, and when Mauricio announced those two songs, the crowd really woke up and brutalized the pit. I couldn’t even believe those deep cuts would be represented, which lets me know that they need to do this more often, just from the crowd reaction alone. “Illuminati” from ‘In Shadows and Dust’ was also a nice touch. Seeing the blend of their newer and older material truly made their performance stand out further, and was the perfect warmup for Suffocation.  Kataklysm’s live performance is always a pleasure to witness, and pulling out a solid setlist like this will make it that much more worthwhile to attend in the near future, including the remainder of this tour.

Set List:
01. Like Angels Weeping (The Dark)
02. If I Was God… I’d Burn It All
03. Like Animals
04. The Ambassador of Pain
05.Blood on the Swans
06. The Awakener
07. Stormland
08. In Shadows & Dust
09. Illuminati
10. Fire
11. Crippled & Broken

The occasion couldn’t be better, as Suffocation was nearly finished setting up,the PA music comprising solely Megadeth songs. Perhaps they knew of my arrival, or just also knew quality music when they hear it. In comparison to my previous 16 times seeing Suffocation, this was the most different and challenging. Unaware to some in the crowd, the legend responsible for the blueprint of modern brutal growls/gurgels, vocalist Frank Mullen would only participate in the beginning of this tour due to his work obligations back home. Disgorge drummer Ricky Myers would be taking his place. I consider Frank Mullen to be the Bruce Dickinson of brutal music, so without him here tonight was definitely going to be a challenge, but I was very open-minded with support for Suffocation not dropping an inch. The crowd was non-stop as soon as “Thrones of Blood” opened their set. The mosh pit level was more intense and frantic than the entire tour lineup combined. Founder and guitarist extraordinare Terrence Hobbs showed no mercy to the fretboard, providing his signature lead blitzes and undeniable death metal guitar style, something only his former longtime axemate Doug Cerrito was able to create and replicate. Driven by madness and complete anger-filled solitude, bassist Derek Boyer essentially never stopped windmilling or headbanging, all the while playing his bass in the vertical angle he is most known for. Guy Marchais joined Hobbs with not a single note missed, adding his flavor of technicality to the mix. The classics were played, as the title track to their first and still ahead of its time debut album ‘Effigy of the Forgotten’ created absolute mayhem and brutality all across the Whisky. Veteran and newest member of the group Kevin Talley drove expectations as usual, providing the natural speed and intensity Suffocation started with and are still known for. Pulling out “Entrails of You” from their 2006 self titled released was a pleasure to hear, since it’s been quite some time since I’ve witnessed this. Almost never forgotten in their set, the title track to their magnum opus ‘Pierced from Within’ leaves some paralyzed, some raging in the pit, and others uncontrollably frantic all around the venue. This track also contains the heaviest riff I’ve ever heard, live and album, and the feeling is always recognized, and it cannot be explained until witnessed.

The least familiar face on stage for about everyone at this near sold-out Whisky was the touring vocalist Ricky Myers filling Frank Mullen’s shoes. To give credit where it’s due, his growls were solid and his movement across the stage was constant. Right after the first song ever written by the band, “Catatonia”, a few in the audience yelled out, “Where’s Frank?!” In response, Ricky announced, “Frank’s not here, and can’t tour full time anymore. I’ll do my best for him and all of you!” It was a humble, sincere effort to keep intact Suffocation’s impeccable and near-perfect live show. Never an official vocalist in his musical career, Myers was a little out of breath on some of the songs, but only on a couple occasions. Through more shows, he can only improve and become even more comfortable onstage. Although the crowd still immensely enjoyed the show as I’ve always seen at a Suffocation show, it definitely was different. The songs went by a lot faster, and the lack of Frank’s stage banter in between songs, which are absolutely legendary, andnot withstanding the famous “Hand Chop”, something I believe most genres of extreme metal recognize. The performance was not at all horrible or even less than great, just a void that was defintely noticeable and as a long avid Suffocation fan, something that’s hard to adjust to. But, the level of quality in their albums, their character and especially the live setting, to which I have said for years no one can do what they do live, has to always be taken into account. No one should judge the band in a negative light due to Frank putting family first. The absence was just a void, and something that will have to be taken into effect for a long time.

The last two songs of their crushing and still somewhat short 11-song set, and two of their most crushing, “Liege of Inveracity” and “Infecting the Crypts”, left the audience gasping for air and pummeled into each other. Even 20 songs would not have been enough for me, but leaving me completely winded, breathless, sore and incredibly exhausted, Suffocation do what they do everytime they play: Bringing an unparalleled level of sadistic carnage, filled with anger beyond comtempt, all through live music. I’ve been asked for several years by those who don’t listen to or appreciate this type of music, why I love extreme metal so much. Sometimes it’s hard to describe, and other times, I just simply tell them, “See Suffocation live and you’ll know exactly why.” They say that to truly find happiness, solitude and joy, you must search on what drives you on a sole personal level. Music, metal and live music do all of those for me, while Suffocation crosses each territory and brings it to a level of maddening serenity and chaos delight. This is grand splendor, this is what life for me feels like.

17 shows in the books for Suffocation, and while definitely a challenge due to the absence of Frank Mullen, the entire audience, and yours truly, gave it their all and possibly a lot more. The standard for extreme live music has always set on the bar starting with them, and I don’t think it’s possible for any other to reach it or come even close. All takers and fanatics of death metal and brutal music, the opportunity to miss Suffocation is completely inexcusable, and if up to this writer, be punishable by some capacity of the law.

Set List:
01. Thrones of Blood
02. Catatonia
03. As Grace Descends
04. Effigy of the Forgotten
05. Funeral Inception
06. Entrails of You
07. Breeding The Spawn
08. Purgatorial Punishment
09. Pierced from Within
10. My Demise
11. Liege of Inveracity
12. Infecting the Crypts

Remaining tour dates:
10/23/14  Tonic Lounge – Portland, OR
10/24/14  Studio Seven – Seattle, WA
10/25/14  Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC Canada
10/26/14  The Level – Kelowna, BC Canada
10/27/14  Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB Canada
10/28/14  Rock Bottom – Saskatoon, SK Canada
10/29/14  The Zoo – Winnipeg, MB Canada
11/01/14  The Opera House – Toronto, ON Canada
11/02/14  Paramount – Rouyn, QC Canada
11/03/14  Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC Canada

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