Review: Goodbye, Frank Mullen

     Being in a band for thirty years is a true statement to the legacy that you truly uphold. Suffocation is a band that has practically evolved the modern death metal scene and has greatly inspired so many current trends in extreme metal, with deathcore being one of them. Saying goodbye to frontman Frank Mullen was something I did not want to miss. Though the vocalist did stop his full time touring a few years ago, this tour is basically the last time you’ll most likely ever see him do vocals for Suffocation. Along for the ride are Cattle Decapitation, Krisiun and Visceral Disgorge. These bands are all very different types of death metal, but the main goal they all have in mind is to play extremely heavy music. The Death Chopping Tour will provide you with that. It’s no wonder why this show sold out.

     Suffocation’s music live is such a spectacular sight to behold. They have some tightest guitar riffs you’ll probably ever here from a death metal band. From super tight riff leads to some insanely heavy breakdowns. There is so much variety here to keep you busy. Lead guitarist Terrance Hobbs does not miss a damn beat. This man does so many incredible shreds, its legit inhuman. Frank Mullen’s voice sounds better than ever 30 years later. The low grows and battered screams are superb live. Though touring has taken a stressful toll on him, it’s great to see him put so much energy into the live set. Plus seeing Frank do his trademark “hand chop” during a rhythm section of a song is always so much fun to see. It’s always satisfying to always see the veteran frontman crack a joke in between songs as well to make sure the audience is having fun. The super intense songs kept the setlist going, with so many well known tracks like Catatonia, Liege of Inveracity, Effigy of the Forgotten, Pierced from Within and many more brutal tracks. The crowd was super rambunctious live, with a mosh pit that was seemingly out of control tonight in the best way possible. A true sight to behold that featured so much wild mosh pit action. Suffocation fans truly got a set tonight that featured the best of everything when it came to the set and that performance.

     Cattle Decapitation, a name that truly exalts fear into you. This band has a message to tell you, they want to show you that the earth is falling apart and that animals feel the worst type of suffering. This band’s message is truly powerful and I give them credit for showing us that with extremely heavy music. You want to hear one of the tightest death metal bands, here you go. Vocalist Travis Ryan is the most versatile death metal vocalist ever. He literally snarls like a gremlin and then roars like a lion. This man, can sound like four different things on stage and he’ll never lose a beat. Hearing songs like Manufactured Extinct, Forced Gender Reassignment and The Prophets Of Loss show off that vocal fidelity in the greatest way. Travis Ryan is truly the most unique vocalist in the death metal genre. Plus, the chaotic guitar passages and heavy blast beats will be a full frontal assault on all of your senses. The mosh pit honestly rivaled Suffocation’s pit in terms of insanity, it’s great to see that the crowd was showing the same amount of chaos for Cattle Decapitation as well. This band truly deserves all of the insanity it can get from the fans.

     Krisiun has an impeccable amount of groove that makes them a great fit for this tour. Head banging along to the crazy rhythms that this band provides is so satisfying. This three piece outfit from Brazil is a solid death metal band that will get fans excited. The breakneck blast beats and extreme riff passages feel like a massive throwback to Death’s Spiritual Healing or Sepultura’s Chaos A.D. Krisiun isn’t afraid to slow down at all to let the heavier parts of their music sink in, but then when they start picking up the pace. You know, it’s about to get super intense. The tempo changes that this band provides are a great way to keep you interested. The pit was definitely starting to warm up many fans as well. As it almost looked like the eye of a hurricane was being formed. Vocalist and guitarist Alex Camargo screams like a mad man on stage and keeps his composure going at all times. If you’re looking for a band that doesn’t want to keep up with any specific speed and you want an ounce of groove thrown into your death metal. Then Krisun will truly satisfy that fix.

     Visceral Disgorge is one of the heaviest openers you will most likely this fall. For those looking to get an extremely brutal fix, I highly suggest that you come to the show early to check these guys out. Visceral Disgorge plays in the “Slam” style of death metal, which if you don’t know already is an extreme subgenre in death metal. If you’re a fan of bands like Cryptopsy, Malignancy and Abominable Putridity then this band will truly satisfy. Vocalist, Travis Werner has some of the finest lows in death metal. The gutturals this man provides to the audience are just absolutely satisfying to no end. Plus, with some guitars that are tuned extremely low but they feature some sick shreds. If you’re ready to hear some short but absolutely satisfying slams, then come out to see Visceral Disgorge early. An extremely solid warm up band, that’s for sure.

     Death Metal fans in New York City truly gave Suffocation the best hometown farewell that Frank Mullen truly deserved. It was an absolutely chaotic night filled with some extremely heavy bands. It is truly a shame that Mullen will be stepping down from vocals, but I wish the man nothing but the best for his future. This show was a true celebration for 30 years of death metal.

Thank you for everything Suffocation!