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Class 6(66)
Suffocation: Pierced from within
14/02/08 || The Duff
Released: 1995
Introduction
Of all the genres and sub-genres I cherish, I would say with no difficulty whatsoever that the one upon which I lavish the most attention would be death metal, or more specifically, technical death metal (‘cos they’re all so fucken separable these days). However, due to the youthful sprout that I am, I can admire and understand the influence of earlier classics, but choose to veer towards the more recent outings when getting my aural dose of blasts and whizzing guitars, simply because I think the music to have presently evolved to a peak – I think “Altars of Madness” to be a good album, but don’t quite comprehend the fuss caused over it purely because I was more into My Little Pony and Barbie Dol-... I mean G.I. Joes and cutting the heads off of defenseless fledgling birds around 1989, and not so much into the macabre riffing of Azagthoth and Co. (also, how do you explain away piece of shit track like “Bleed for the Devil”?) Kylie Minogue and Jacko were my musical delicacies, as I hadn’t yet discovered the greatness of Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” or The ‘Deth’s “Youthanasia”, albums that would open my mind to the wonders of TEH MIGHTY METAL! That said, there are three classic albums that I find to bare the perfection as witnessed in the more recent death metal outfits – Suffocation’s “Pierced From Within” not only achieves this accolade, but also ranks as my all-time favourite death metal album.
Songwriting
10. Most tech death bands of today are just that: tech death bands (and yet I demand no fee for the advice that I give). Suffocation manage to combine brutality (bands like Origin are technical, but they are primarily brutal, the complexity coming more in the form of insanely executed picking techniques and exercises that seem to justify a lack of well written music – but hey, I dig Origin too) and technicality, riffs that crush, groove and impress due to the merging of virtuosic prowess and thoughtful arrangements – the band had perfected the Suffocation formula by this point in its career, and the arrangements concocted to a sickening degree of professionalism; it’s frightening how well the riffs run into each other on “Pierced From Within”.
Production
9. Goodbye Paul Bagin, good riddance, bring in someone who knows how to produce a fucken death metal album and award one of death metal’s finest bands (if not the finest) the service it deserves. Hello Scott Burns, how so very good of you to bring Suffocation back to its past glory. Not nearly as gut-wrenchingly heavy as “Effigy of the Forgotten”, nor as much of a cocksmack to the face of conventionality (take that, conventionality!), the production to “Pierced From Within” is still kept very bass-heavy as with Burns’ past work with the band, but the guitars and drums are so much more streamlined – this is the dream production for Suffocation, and something that has only ever been matched on the band’s latest, self-titled (some twelve years on). In short, Scott Burns is the shit.
Guitars
9. The last collaboration between Terrance and Doug on a Suffocation full-length, and well, Doug has really gone out in style, twin-guns blazing, with nine inches of man meat jutting out from his pants. I really dig break downs, and they simply don’t get any better than on “Effigy of the Forgotten” and “Pierced From Within” (I think they were a bit repetitive on “Breeding the Spawn”, to be honest).
Although the break downs on this album are second to those on “Effigy of the Forgotten” (you just can’t argue with “Infecting the Crypts”, “Seeds of the Suffering” and “Habitual Infamy”), some of them rank up there with the greatest I’ve heard – “Suspended in Tribulation” (the closing riff and how it’s executed), and the re-recorded “Breeding the Spawn”, which has had its once impotent break down riff beefed up and brought back to full capacity. On occasion, I would argue that the speedy, Slayer inspired material does get slightly repetitive, but it’s not as though the riffs themselves don’t rule all.
Also notable is the fact that “Pierced From Within” sports the finest lead tone to any Suffocation album (with the exception of the self-titled), allowing the listener to appreciate that maybe Doug and Terrance are aware of the notion of phrasing, and are actually both very talented at the art of noodling.
Vocals
8. Frank is back in top form; we all knew he had it in him, and “Pierced From Within” re-establishes the man in amongst the best of death metal vocalists, allowing us to shake off the nightmare that was “Breeding the Spawn”.
Bass
10. One of the greatest bassists of our time, up there with the likes of Steve DiGiorgio et al (y’know, all the legendary folk). The sound this guy has been awarded courtesy of Scott Burns is spot on here; not as demolishing as on “Effigy of the Forgotten”, but still pretty heavy, yet also having retained the clarity and predominant placing in the final mix as on “Breeding the Spawn” (or, as the case was with that album, the many final mixes), I think this is Chris Richards’ abilities expressed as well as showcased in the best light possible.
Drums
9. I’m surprised this guy could steady his nerves enough to roll out a couple of blasts, as filling Mike Smith’s shoes is probably tougher than wearing John Holms’ underpants to a convincing standard. Okay, so he’s not Mike Smith, but this guy can seriously play – Suffocation did not fuck around in finding a replacement for possibly death metal’s most elite drummer, and the performance on “Pierced From Within” when it comes to the drumming is brimming with talent, creativity and dexterity, even if it can be perceived as a little mechanical. Some have said the guy doesn’t blast too hard either, but I can’t notice for the life of me; it all sounds good from here – comparing the guy to Mike isn’t fair, considering the band’s former drummer has forearms the size of John Holmes’ penis.
Lyrics
6. Reduced are the gluttonous cannibalistic exploits of the protagonist who was such an integral part to many a song off “Breeding the Spawn”, back are some of the philosophical meanderings of a man not quite so bright, and a newcomer in the form of someone who likes to pass the time with a pick-axe, a knife, a shovel, some nails, a hacksaw, a pair of pliers, high voltage, a buttplug, waxing pads…
Cover art
8. Probably Suffocation’s best piece of artwork, but it doesn’t depict much. Very dark, and we get the whole “some poor fellow pierced from within” reference, but something about the “Breeding the Spawn” cover having a little more going on just makes this fall short of first place, in my opinion. Still going to get an eight, indication to just how indifferent I am when it comes to Suffocation covers – they don’t stir too much within me. Spawn of Possession’s “Noctambulant”, now that’s a fucken album cover.
Logo
9. Beyond awesomeness itself. One of the dumbest things the band has done in its history is remove the logo on the latest and try to re-brand its music so as to mix in with the new, sleek, alcopop drinking clique that are Trivium and Killswitch Engage fans – kiddies who polish their combat boots with self-produced forehead grease before a metal gig. A fucken spiky “S”? No, I don’t think so – this logo is absolute quality, readable, and just plain fucken mean. Why you’d want to replace it with anything less identifiable to your faithful following of the past one and a half decades is beyond me.
Booklet
5. Finally, Suffocation have parted ways with thoughts of making a fashion statement, and gone with wearing whatever they’re comfortable with – a wise decision, allowing us all to get some well deserved rest. Nothing much else; lyrics, and that about covers it.
Overall and ending rant
9. The greatest death metal album of our time, I think “Pierced From Within” is untouchable as a classic album, except possibly by Death’s “Human” and Morbid Angel’s “Blessed Are the Sick”. I’ve read someone say that this can get somewhat predictable, thereby justifying a preference for “Breeding the Spawn”, and as much as I may agree that the band’s sophomore twists and turns a little more, I think the reason for such an opinion is because the riffs on this album slot alongside each other too fucken comfortably – the songwriting is immaculate on this record.
There isn’t anything on “Pierced From Within” that could have been done better, and for this reason, considering the band has gone on to influence so many, I think it’s easy to say that the album’s too obvious without really thinking it through. Maybe by Suffocation’s standards “Pierced From Within” could appear a tad trite to a select few who have some insanely high standards, but overall, death metal does not get any finer than what is on display here. The same person who gave such an opinion then went on to say that Vader and Deicide are where it’s at, so it’s all a matter of opinion – that fucko is clearly wrong, and you should buy this without a moment’s hesitation.
