Suffocation - The Pinnacle of Bedlam

[brutal_descent]

New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION have set "The Pinnacle Of Bedlam" as the title of their new album, tentatively due in February/March 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to 2009's "Blood Oath" will come with a bonus DVD, the details of which will be announced soon.

In a brand new interview with Jo Schüftan of Horns Up Rocks!, SUFFOCATION bassist Derek Boyer stated about the band's upcoming CD, "We've been working on it for two years [and recording it for the last four weeks], working really hard to make sure that we compose a really tasteful album for the new and the old SUFFOCATION fans.

"With the modern recording technology, a lot of bands are taking the shortcut. We wanted to do it the old-fashioned way — make sure that everyone's happy with their performance.

"We're really happy with the content —the lyrical concepts and the musical compositions — so all in all, it's a very, very good record."

Regarding the title of the new SUFFOCATION CD, Boyer said, "It's a concept album based loosely on the 'Tibetan Book Of The Dead'. We didn't wanna just throw a bunch of different concepts, we wanted to try to work together as a band and write something that had a theme. And I think we're really in the right direction with this one."

He added, "It's always interesting when you record a record. If you're conscious, maybe you can channel the energy into a sole product where we're all, like, 'Let's just do whatever,' and it still comes out great. But we pretty much tried to hone it in and tried to work on a concept album. So it's really right."

"The Pinnacle Of Bedlam" will mark SUFFOCATION's first recording since the departure earlier in the year of drummer Mike Smith. He has since been replaced by Dave Culross, who previously played on the band's "Despise The Sun" CD.

"The circumstances and the timing worked out great," Boyer said about Dave's return to SUFFOCATION. "We're really fortunate. Dave is a great player and a really nice guy. And we kind of didn't skip a beat. And it's going great. We're really happy. We've done some European tours with him, a few American shows and now we're in the studio for the last four weeks."

On the topic of SUFFOCATION's relationship with Nuclear Blast Records, which the band first worked with on the aforementioned "Blood Oath" album, Boyer said, "They're great, man. They get behind you. A lot of the labels we worked with, and a lot of my friends worked with, you want to like the people and you also want them to be able to support you. You get a lot of labels that are, like, 'Oh, we love you so much, but we don't have the capital to put you out there where you need to be.' Nuclear Blast is just one of those really, really good labels that believes in us, we're great friends with them, and they have the potential to push us. So we're extremely happy with Nuclear Blast."

As previously reported, SUFFOCATION is among the inductees for this year's class of the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame. TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider will receive the Harry Chapin Award at the event, which will be held on October 18 at The Paramount in Huntington, New York. Snider will also perform selections from his "Dee Does Broadway" album.

Inductees are selected by the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame Board Of Directors from anevolving and growing list of people, artists, and entities that wereborn, raised, founded, or have resided on geographic Long Island (Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk) for a significant portion of theircareer. Induction is based on historical importance and thesignificance of their contribution to Long Island's rich musical heritage.

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[energymetal14]

I can't wait to hear this new stuff! Definitely one of the albums I'm gonna check out as soon as it comes out.

[street_burial]

[AnataFan4Life]

[treghet]

That artwork doesn't seem suited for Suffocation.

[smearCampaign]

Originally Posted by treghet

That artwork doesn't seem suited for Suffocation.

Agreed; the art is lame and the font for the album title is stupid. They need to go back and hire Dan Seagrave again.

[treghet]

Originally Posted by smearCampaign

Agreed; the art is lame and the font for the album title is stupid. They need to go back and hire Dan Seagrave again.

It looks like artwork for any run of the mill modern death metal band.

[W0unds]

The font for the album title is pretty cheesy looking. I agree that it looks like any standard death metal band could copy and paste their logo onto the artwork and it would fit about as well as this does.

Regardless of artwork, still excited for this - hopefully we get some quality Suffocation early next year.

[treghet]

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam", the new album from New York death metal veterans SUFFOCATION, will be released on February 15, 2013 via Nuclear Blast Records. The artwork was handled this time around by Raymond Swanland and can be found below.

Commented SUFFOCATION bassist Derek Boyer: "This artwork is a perfect portrayal of our music. The cover depicts lyrical content like 'scales tip in degradation' and 'hooded messenger of death is now set forth, punishment for all.' Raymond is an absolute BEAST of an artist!"

Added SUFFOCATION guitarist Guy Marchais: "The artwork for 'Pinnacle' brings another element to an already brutal album. Raymond knew exactly what we were looking for and delivered!"

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" was produced by the band at Full Force Studios in New York with longtime collaborator Joe Cincotta. The mixing and mastering of the effort was handled by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, ARSIS, SUICIDE SILENCE).

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" features 10 genre-defining-bone-crushing tracks and also marks the return of drummer Dave Culross, who previously played on the "Despise The Sun" EP. Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".

"Pinnacle Of Bedlam" track listing:

01. Cycles Of Suffering
02. Purgatorial Punishment
03. Eminent Wrath
04. As Grace Descends
05. Sullen Days
06. Pinnacle Of Bedlam
07. My Demise
08. Inversion
09. Rapture Of Revocation
10. Beginning Of Sorrow

Stated guitarist Terrance Hobbs: "The meaning of the album title 'Pinnacle Of Bedlam', is the tipping point or most elevated moment as we approach the chaotic climax of this existence. The cosmic scale teeters and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

"People should expect nothing less than sheer brutality, as we perform together with this incredible lineup! We feel this CD will be the best SUFFOCATION album ever to have been released and are confident the fans will love it."

SUFFOCATION was among the inductees for this year's class of the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame. TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider received the Harry Chapin Award at the event, which was held on October 18 at The Paramount in Huntington, New York.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.asp...sitemID=183281

[adamclark52]

Originally Posted by treghet

Founding member and former drummer Mike Smith also makes a special guest appearance on the re-recorded "Breeding The Spawn" track "Beginning Of Sorrow".

That is interesting, after the words he posted earlier this year. But is it a special guest appearance or something they recorded before he left and are using anyway?