SUSPERIA: Cut From Stone

Cover	Release	Style
	2007-04-09	melodic thrash metal
	Label
	www.tubarec.com / www.totalconceptmanagement.com
	Website
	www.susperia.net
	Contact
	-
	Playing Time	Cat. N°
	47:17	TABU024
	Review by / Translated by	Rating
	Vera	9/10
nederlands	Review
Susperia may be a rather unknown name for many people yet, but the band consists of members coming from established bands such as Dimmu Borgir and Old Man’s Child, while guitarist Cyrus once played in Satyricon for a while. Drummer Tjodalv was even one of the founders of Dimmu Borgir, but we all know that the man behind the drums in Dimmu Borgir has been changed many times. Susperia however, does not play melodic black metal, but dainty chopping thrash with a good feeling for melodies. This is thrash like thrash ought to be: chunky, heavy and yet, open to lashings of fetching melodies. ‘Cut From Stone’ is the fourth album of this Oslo based quintet, but the second one for Tabu Recordings. With every album the success expanded, so that the previous album – ‘Unlimited’ of 2004 – was their best selling one until now. In 2005 Susperia released the ‘Devil May Care’ EP which reached number 19 in the Norwegian hit lists. There are some songs on this new album with huge hit potential. After a few spins they cannot be banned out of my head anymore. This album has an ultra chunky, greasy guitar sound, very important in thrash metal. ‘Cut From Stone’ was recorded in the Strand Studio in Oslo, the mix was done by the famous Daniel Bergstrand (known for his work with In Flames, Soilwork, Meshuggah), while the production was in the hands of Susperia and Marius Strand. All these “strandmen” have worked hard to make a top notch album of ‘Cut From Stone’. But on the base of it all, we have of course infectious compositions and these are all written by guitarist Cyrus and vocalist Athera. Hail! When listening to the first track ‘More’ we already get a glimpse of what we can expect: a dark voice that passes into nearly grunts sometimes, but it always stays intelligible, yet giving a rough touch to the entirety. Tight riffs and greasy rock ‘n’ roll in different paces and magnificent leads. A song like ‘The Clone’ blows your speakers and the resilient riffs really kick ass. Those who think that the songs on the newest Machine Head album are too long should consume a compact portion Susperia! And then we’ve got the “raising goose bumps” intro of ‘Distant Memory’ that via a drawn out scream passes into a mid paced mauling track growing wilder slowly. This is a hit in birth! Between the energetic thrash songs with fine vocals and ditto guitar skills, one can find two tracks with any gothic influences. It may be a funny personal interpretation, but during ‘Release’ I suddenly think that this could have been made by Paradise Lost. The guitars, the dark voice and the atmospheric sound. The open guitar sounds of ‘Under’ reminded me of Sentenced. But anyway, thrash fans shouldn’t be discouraged by this, though this album deserves a much wider appreciation than only in the thrash scene. It is just excellent metal: well sung and well played and accessible in the right measure. Following the release of ‘Cut From Stone’, Susperia goes on tour, first with WASP, later with Onslaught, but pitiful enough without drummer Tjodalv for I just heard that he has broken his ankle. Anders Haave of Blood Red Throne will be the temporary replacement.
Musicians
Athera: vocals Cyrus: guitars Elvorn: guitars Memnock: bass Tjodalv: drums
Tracklist
More (3:33) Lackluster Day (3:22) The Clone (4:14) Distant Memory (6:55) Release (4:44) Life Deprived (4:23) Between The Lines (3:35) Bound To Come (3:45) Under (4:09) Brother (3:16) Cut From Stone (5:11)
Discography


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