Suffocation (band)
Encyclopedia
Suffocation is an American death metal
band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island
, New York
. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen
, guitarists Terrance Hobbs
and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for the genre for the 1990s with their 1991 debut album Effigy of the Forgotten
. Suffocation released six studio albums.
The band's raw death metal style uses guttural vocals with a downtuned guitar sound, fast complex guitar riffs and drumming, and a sophisticated sense of songwriting.
, New York
, by vocalist Frank Mullen
, bassist Josh Barohn, guitarists Guy Marchais and Todd German, and Barohn's friend on drums. Guitarists Terrance Hobbs
and Doug Cerrito, along with drummer Mike Smith, former members of a local band Mortuary that disbanded at the time, joined Suffocation and created a new lineup with Mullen, Hobbs, Smith, Cerrito and Barohn. The quintet was mainly influenced by fellow american death metal bands as well as Napalm Death
and Sepultura
. Smith commented on meeting Hobbs for the first time: "That’s where I first noticed, "Wow, there’s another black guy playing this kind of stuff"." The band's first EP, Human Waste
, was released through Relapse Records
in 1991. The full-length debut album, Effigy of the Forgotten
, recorded by producer Scott Burns
at Tampa
's Morrisound Studios and released by Roadrunner Records
the same year. The album became substantially influential in extreme metal music.
After the following album, Breeding the Spawn
, was released in 1993, Smith left the band and was replaced by Doug Bohn. The 1995 release Pierced from Within
, which received better production than the previous release, was followed by extensive tours in Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States. In 1998, Suffocation released the EP Despise the Sun
via Vulture Records and disbanded soon after. The EP was re-released later in 2000 and 2002 by Relapse Records.
and Decrepit Birth
on bass. In April 2004, Relapse Records released Souls to Deny
. After the band played more than 400 shows in the United States and Europe including the Wacken Festival
in Germany, playing to over 33,000 fans, Suffocation released their self-titled album, Suffocation
, in 2006. In 2007, the band was featured in The History Channel
's promotional video for The Dark Ages documentary, playing the song "Bind, Torture, Kill".
In 2008, the band signed to the German Nuclear Blast Records and released their latest album Blood Oath
in 2009. The album charted on the US Billboard 200
at #135. In 2009, Relapse released the live album entitled Close of a Chapter—Live in Québec City, that was previously self-released by the band in 2005. The release of a documentary film Legacy Of Violence was set for 2010 but has since been delayed. In May 2010 Suffocation toured with Napalm Death in South America and Mexico. In the fall of 2010, Suffocation embarked on a North American headlining tour with The Faceless
, Decrepit Birth
, and Fleshgod Apocalypse
. Suffocation are eyeing a summer 2012 release for their upcoming album.
style is influenced by grindcore
. The band uses "outrageously guttural vocals with a bottom-heavy guitar foundation, [...] blistering speed, unparalleled brutality and [...] sophisticated sense of songwriting, complex time changes and lead and rhythm guitar acrobatics" and frequent breakdowns.
With their debut album, Effigy of the Forgotten, Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for the genre for the 1990s, retaining their style after the reunion in 2003. Decibel Magazine
stated: "Effigy of the Forgotten was a benchmark for extreme music, as it sacrificed neither virtuosity or brutality, becoming a signpost for thousands who were still contemplating how to incorporate scalar
runs, rapid-fire palm-muting
and hummingbird-wing-quick picking
into riffs, while opening up rhythmic dimensions and the scope of the blast beat
." According to Allmusic, Mullen is one of the best vocalists in death metal.
Former members
DVDs
Extended plays
Other
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen
Frank Mullen
Frank Mullen, is the vocalist of New York death metal band Suffocation, and met fellow band mates Mike Smith and Terrance Hobbs in high school. He is recognized to be among the first to bring low-pitched vocals in death metal...
, guitarists Terrance Hobbs
Terrance Hobbs
Terrance Hobbs is the lead guitarist in the New York Death Metal band Suffocation. Hobbs has been a constant member in the band since their first released title Reincremated along with band mates Frank Mullen and Mike Smith, who all met in high school...
and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for the genre for the 1990s with their 1991 debut album Effigy of the Forgotten
Effigy of the Forgotten
-Personnel:Suffocation*Frank Mullen: All Vocals*Doug Cerrito: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Terrance Hobbs: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Josh Barohn: Bass*Mike Smith: DrumsProduction*Produced, Engineered & Mixed By Scott Burns*Mastered By Eddy SchreyerGuest Musicians...
. Suffocation released six studio albums.
The band's raw death metal style uses guttural vocals with a downtuned guitar sound, fast complex guitar riffs and drumming, and a sophisticated sense of songwriting.
Early years and the 1990s era (1989–1998)
Suffocation was formed in 1989 in Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, by vocalist Frank Mullen
Frank Mullen
Frank Mullen, is the vocalist of New York death metal band Suffocation, and met fellow band mates Mike Smith and Terrance Hobbs in high school. He is recognized to be among the first to bring low-pitched vocals in death metal...
, bassist Josh Barohn, guitarists Guy Marchais and Todd German, and Barohn's friend on drums. Guitarists Terrance Hobbs
Terrance Hobbs
Terrance Hobbs is the lead guitarist in the New York Death Metal band Suffocation. Hobbs has been a constant member in the band since their first released title Reincremated along with band mates Frank Mullen and Mike Smith, who all met in high school...
and Doug Cerrito, along with drummer Mike Smith, former members of a local band Mortuary that disbanded at the time, joined Suffocation and created a new lineup with Mullen, Hobbs, Smith, Cerrito and Barohn. The quintet was mainly influenced by fellow american death metal bands as well as Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
and Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
. Smith commented on meeting Hobbs for the first time: "That’s where I first noticed, "Wow, there’s another black guy playing this kind of stuff"." The band's first EP, Human Waste
Human Waste
Human Waste is Suffocation's debut EP released by Relapse Records.This was also the first CD ever to be released by Relapse. "Infecting The Crypts", "Mass Obliteration",and "Jesus Wept" were re-recorded on the following album, Effigy of the Forgotten...
, was released through Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
in 1991. The full-length debut album, Effigy of the Forgotten
Effigy of the Forgotten
-Personnel:Suffocation*Frank Mullen: All Vocals*Doug Cerrito: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Terrance Hobbs: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Josh Barohn: Bass*Mike Smith: DrumsProduction*Produced, Engineered & Mixed By Scott Burns*Mastered By Eddy SchreyerGuest Musicians...
, recorded by producer Scott Burns
Scott Burns (producer)
Scott Burns is an American computer engineer and an ex-music producer of death metal music, resident at Morrisound Recording studio in Tampa, Florida in late 1980s and 1990s.-Biography:...
at Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
's Morrisound Studios and released by Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
the same year. The album became substantially influential in extreme metal music.
After the following album, Breeding the Spawn
Breeding the Spawn
Breeding the Spawn is the second full-length album by Suffocation. Though it still employs the characteristics and elements associated with Suffocation's song writing, the production on the album is much thinner than on other albums, due to financial problems regarding their label Roadrunner...
, was released in 1993, Smith left the band and was replaced by Doug Bohn. The 1995 release Pierced from Within
Pierced from Within
Pierced from Within is an album released in 1995 by the technical death metal band Suffocation. "Synthetically Revived" is a re-recording of the song of the same name from the Human Waste EP and "Breeding the Spawn" is a re-recording of the title track from the band's previous album.Both this album...
, which received better production than the previous release, was followed by extensive tours in Europe, Canada, Mexico and the United States. In 1998, Suffocation released the EP Despise the Sun
Despise the Sun
Despise the Sun is an EP released in 1998 by Suffocation. It was the last recording before Suffocation's breakup , and the last to feature guitarist Doug Cerrito and bassist Chris Richards...
via Vulture Records and disbanded soon after. The EP was re-released later in 2000 and 2002 by Relapse Records.
Reunion and later (2003–present)
Mullen and Hobbs reformed in 2003 with Smith, Marchais and Derek Boyer of the bands Dying FetusDying Fetus
Dying Fetus is an American death metal band from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Formed in 1991, the group is known for their outspoken political views, and for being one of the few death metal bands who follow a political nature. Earlier lyrics showcased the common death metal trait of explicit violence...
and Decrepit Birth
Decrepit Birth
Decrepit Birth is a death metal band from Santa Cruz, California, USA, signed to Nuclear Blast. They have released three studio albums through Unique Leader Records and a demo independently...
on bass. In April 2004, Relapse Records released Souls to Deny
Souls to Deny
Souls to Deny is a fourth album by the death metal band Suffocation marking the end of a six year hiatus. This is the first album featuring former guitarist Guy Marchais and marks the return of original drummer, Mike Smith...
. After the band played more than 400 shows in the United States and Europe including the Wacken Festival
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
in Germany, playing to over 33,000 fans, Suffocation released their self-titled album, Suffocation
Suffocation (album)
-Personnel:* Frank Mullen – vocals* Terrance Hobbs – guitar* Guy Marchais – guitar* Mike Smith – drums* Derek Boyer – bass guitar...
, in 2006. In 2007, the band was featured in The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
's promotional video for The Dark Ages documentary, playing the song "Bind, Torture, Kill".
In 2008, the band signed to the German Nuclear Blast Records and released their latest album Blood Oath
Blood Oath (album)
- Release history :- Personnel :Suffocation* Frank Mullen – vocals* Terrance Hobbs – guitar* Guy Marchais – guitar* Mike Smith – drums* Derek Boyer – bass guitarProduction* Zack Ohren – mixing* Joe Cincotta – engineering* John Scrip – mastering...
in 2009. The album charted on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
at #135. In 2009, Relapse released the live album entitled Close of a Chapter—Live in Québec City, that was previously self-released by the band in 2005. The release of a documentary film Legacy Of Violence was set for 2010 but has since been delayed. In May 2010 Suffocation toured with Napalm Death in South America and Mexico. In the fall of 2010, Suffocation embarked on a North American headlining tour with The Faceless
The Faceless
The Faceless is an American technical death metal band from Encino, California. They released their debut album, Akeldama in November 2006, and a follow-up, Planetary Duality, in November 2008.-History:...
, Decrepit Birth
Decrepit Birth
Decrepit Birth is a death metal band from Santa Cruz, California, USA, signed to Nuclear Blast. They have released three studio albums through Unique Leader Records and a demo independently...
, and Fleshgod Apocalypse
Fleshgod Apocalypse
Fleshgod Apocalypse is an Italian symphonic technical death metal band.-Biography:Fleshgod Apocalypse was formed during 2007 and recorded their first demo the same year. The demo was re-released the following year on a split CD with fellow Italian bands Septycal Gorge, Modus Delicti, and Onirik....
. Suffocation are eyeing a summer 2012 release for their upcoming album.
Musical style and legacy
Suffocation's technical death metalTechnical death metal
Technical death metal is a musical subgenre of death metal that focuses on complex rhythms, riffs and song structures. Technical experimentation in death metal began in the late '80s and early '90s by bands such as Death, Atheist and Cynic...
style is influenced by grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
. The band uses "outrageously guttural vocals with a bottom-heavy guitar foundation, [...] blistering speed, unparalleled brutality and [...] sophisticated sense of songwriting, complex time changes and lead and rhythm guitar acrobatics" and frequent breakdowns.
With their debut album, Effigy of the Forgotten, Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for the genre for the 1990s, retaining their style after the reunion in 2003. Decibel Magazine
Decibel magazine
Decibel is a monthly heavy metal and extreme music magazine published by the Philadelphia-based Red Flag Media. Since October 2004, Decibel has featured a plethora of extreme metal bands and musicians. Its sections include Upfront, Features, Reviews, Guest Columns and the Decibel Hall of Fame...
stated: "Effigy of the Forgotten was a benchmark for extreme music, as it sacrificed neither virtuosity or brutality, becoming a signpost for thousands who were still contemplating how to incorporate scalar
Scale (string instruments)
In stringed instruments, the scale length is the maximum vibrating length of the strings to produce sound. In the classical community, it may be called simply "string length" or less often "mensure." On instruments in which strings are not "stopped" or divided in length like for example the...
runs, rapid-fire palm-muting
Palm mute
The palm mute is a playing technique for guitar and bass guitar executed by placing the side of the picking hand below the little finger across all of the strings very close to the bridge and then plucking the strings with the fingers while the damping is in effect. This produces a muted sound...
and hummingbird-wing-quick picking
Guitar picking
Guitar picking is a collection of techniques for setting a string into motion to produce an audible note; that is, plucking or strumming the strings on a guitar. Picking can be done:-* With a plectrum held in the hand...
into riffs, while opening up rhythmic dimensions and the scope of the blast beat
Blast beat
A blast beat is a drum beat often associated with extreme metal and grindcore, although its usage predates the genres, and is utilised by many different styles of metal...
." According to Allmusic, Mullen is one of the best vocalists in death metal.
Members
Current members- Frank MullenFrank MullenFrank Mullen, is the vocalist of New York death metal band Suffocation, and met fellow band mates Mike Smith and Terrance Hobbs in high school. He is recognized to be among the first to bring low-pitched vocals in death metal...
– vocals (1989–1998, 2003–present) - Terrance HobbsTerrance HobbsTerrance Hobbs is the lead guitarist in the New York Death Metal band Suffocation. Hobbs has been a constant member in the band since their first released title Reincremated along with band mates Frank Mullen and Mike Smith, who all met in high school...
– lead guitar (1989–1998, 2003–present) - Guy Marchais – guitars (1989–1990, 2003–present)
- Mike Smith – drums (1989–1994, 2003–present)
- Derek Boyer – bass (2004–present)
Former members
- Doug CerritoDoug CerritoDoug Cerrito is an American guitar player best known as the guitarist for New York death metal band Suffocation from 1990 until their split in 1998....
– guitar (1990–1998) - Josh Barohn – bass (1989–1991)
- Chris RichardsChris RichardsFor the American basketball player, see Chris Richard .-Biography:Chris Richards is a former bass guitarist of Suffocation. He started playing bass at the age of 15. He grew up in Long Island, New York. Chris replaced Josh Baron of Suffocation in July 1991. Chris was world renown in the death metal...
– bass (1991–1998) - Doug Bohn – drums (1994–1996)
- Dave CulrossDave CulrossDave Culross, born March 9, 1974, is an American drummer. He was a member of Malevolent Creation, Culross has played drums in many death metal bands, such as Suffocation, Mortician, Incantation, HatePlow, Gorgasm and Disgorged.-Discography:...
– drums (1996–1998)
Discography
Studio albums- Effigy of the ForgottenEffigy of the Forgotten-Personnel:Suffocation*Frank Mullen: All Vocals*Doug Cerrito: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Terrance Hobbs: Lead & Rhythm Guitars*Josh Barohn: Bass*Mike Smith: DrumsProduction*Produced, Engineered & Mixed By Scott Burns*Mastered By Eddy SchreyerGuest Musicians...
(1991) - Breeding the SpawnBreeding the SpawnBreeding the Spawn is the second full-length album by Suffocation. Though it still employs the characteristics and elements associated with Suffocation's song writing, the production on the album is much thinner than on other albums, due to financial problems regarding their label Roadrunner...
(1993) - Pierced from WithinPierced from WithinPierced from Within is an album released in 1995 by the technical death metal band Suffocation. "Synthetically Revived" is a re-recording of the song of the same name from the Human Waste EP and "Breeding the Spawn" is a re-recording of the title track from the band's previous album.Both this album...
(1995) - Souls to DenySouls to DenySouls to Deny is a fourth album by the death metal band Suffocation marking the end of a six year hiatus. This is the first album featuring former guitarist Guy Marchais and marks the return of original drummer, Mike Smith...
(2004) - SuffocationSuffocation (album)-Personnel:* Frank Mullen – vocals* Terrance Hobbs – guitar* Guy Marchais – guitar* Mike Smith – drums* Derek Boyer – bass guitar...
(2006) - Blood OathBlood Oath (album)- Release history :- Personnel :Suffocation* Frank Mullen – vocals* Terrance Hobbs – guitar* Guy Marchais – guitar* Mike Smith – drums* Derek Boyer – bass guitarProduction* Zack Ohren – mixing* Joe Cincotta – engineering* John Scrip – mastering...
(2009)
DVDs
- Legacy Of Violence (2011)?
Extended plays
- Human WasteHuman WasteHuman Waste is Suffocation's debut EP released by Relapse Records.This was also the first CD ever to be released by Relapse. "Infecting The Crypts", "Mass Obliteration",and "Jesus Wept" were re-recorded on the following album, Effigy of the Forgotten...
(1991) - Despise the SunDespise the SunDespise the Sun is an EP released in 1998 by Suffocation. It was the last recording before Suffocation's breakup , and the last to feature guitarist Doug Cerrito and bassist Chris Richards...
(1998)
Other
- Reincremated (demo, 1990)
- Live Death (split, 1994)
- The Best of SuffocationThe Best of Suffocation- References :* [ The Best of Suffocation] at Allmusic...
(compilation album, 2008) - Close of a Chapter: Live in Quebec City (live album, 2005 & 2009)