From Louisiana and formed in 1998, Suture are a brutal death metal band who have had their share of tragedy and are finally re-formed after a significant break. I say significant break because this album was originally released about 4 years ago, this version is a re-recorded and re-mixed version of that album and one would assume it is to coincide with the bands reformation.
Leaving no stone unturned, there is no movement away from a tried and tested brutal death metal formula, a blueprint I suppose. That is not to say this is a bad thing, Suture are intensely technical and have the ability to craft some whirlwind tunes. ‘Opprobbrium’ starts out groovy, then the riff machine really takes a hold, in fact it rivals Braindrill’s first full album release for its technical precision and has the execution of some of Suffocation’s finest moments. This three piece unit has no issue in maintaining their ferocity, in a live show situation this may be different, but on album the sound is killer and very tight. ‘Crude Methods of Punishment’ sounds like you are listening to something that will blow your mind way, one certainty is that you will be completely drained by the end of the track. Constant guitar riffing subtly hammers around the back streets of the track and provides ample glorification of the style, although I am not too keen on the pinch harmonics.
For all this is an insane album, it’s not really akin to my favourite styles and for some of the recording I lose concentration as the pattern is repeated many times over from track to track. I won’t say that I don’t really enjoy this, I do, I am wondering what the reformation will bring. New songs hopefully, but in the meantime, bask in a bloody brutal assault from a talented bunch of guys, US death metal always provides such quality, and Suture should be proud of their accomplishments, but I won’t sanction ‘Skeletal Vortex’ as the ultimate be all end all blueprint for this genre, but I will say that it certainly has more impact than what some of their peers have been releasing of late, ‘Escaping the Confines of my Skin’ wipes the floor with some efforts.
Re-recorded, beefed up and possessing a relative niche of technical brutal death metal performed at the top of their game, Suture musically has balls, they have the momentum, I just hope this continues into another album release, or at least some new songs.
(7/10 Paul Maddison)
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