Emerging Extermination

I should preface this review by cautioning any reader that I am not the biggest thrash guy in the world. I have maybe forty different thrash bands in my library, and a good chunk of the total number of thrash albums come from Megadeth and Metallica and some of their numerous imitators. I feel like this is important because if you happen to be a thrash enthusiast, then whatever I say regarding the quality of this album should probably be taken with a kilo of salt. My favourite thrash bands are Megadeth, Razor, and Heathen, and even though I enjoyed this particular album, it sounds absolutely nothing like any of them.

The album starts heavy and fast, and for the entire forty-two minute duration, it never really lets up except in a few small spots. The sound is consistent throughout, and even though there are a few memorable and sudden time/tempo changes, all the songs clearly fit into the same mould. The riffs are straightforward as far as thrash riffing goes, but they are well executed and fun to listen to. The vocals are probably what stood out the most to me, as they sound like a more psychotic version of Roger Martinez's vocals on Vengeance's Human Sacrifice. Actually, more psychotic doesn't quite do justice to how out there the vocalist is. At times, his frantic, chaotic, and over-the-top delivery borders on the lugubrious, even though it does still manage to fit in the album's sound. Actually, if I had to place the overall style and approach that Supresion have, I would put them right next to Vengeance: vocals, guitars, and all.

The production is not something that is particularly noticeable here. It's not low-fi by any means, but it's not overly polished either, and I find that to be a plus. Since nothing really stands out in the mix, you get a pretty good feel for the crunchy guitars and the rhythm section as well. Speaking of crunchy guitars, those things are really crunchy in here. Not quite Asphyx crunchy, but almost there. They definitely have a lot more of that buzz saw sound than I'm used to hearing, but they also have a rawer side to them that particularly appeals to me, and you hear this most on the higher single-string riffs like in the middle section of "Catastrophe".

Unlike a lot of thrash metal, this album is pure riffs when it comes to the guitar. The band is a trio, but they didn't bother dubbing over lead guitar work anywhere. It's pure rhythm guitar the whole way through, which is quite different from what I'm used to hearing. And there's nothing wrong with that as far as I am concerned, but I have seen a good number of trios take advantage of the studio accommodations and lay down some leads for the album, even if they can't reproduce them live. Not the case here at all. Every song is a steady stream of riffs from beginning to end.

If I have to knock this album for something, it would probably be the crazy vocals. Because after a while, they can get to be a bit much. I feel like if they had been toned down a bit, the music could have stood out a bit more and the music is definitely their strength. But that's a small thing if you ask me since the riffs are so enjoyable by themselves. If you want a few highlights to check out, hit up “Almagor” and “Crossing the Narrow Path”; both are super solid tracks and encapsulate the controlled mayhem of this album well enough that you should have a good idea if this is up your alley or not.

Originally written for fetiddead.wordpress.com.