Album/EP

Suffocation - Hymns From The Apocrypha (Album Review)

Andrew Kapper

Oct 30, 2023

7 min read

Suffocation – Hymns from the Apocrypha
Released: November 3rd, 2023

Line Up:

Ricky Myers // Vocals
Terrance Hobbs // Guitars
Charlie Errigo // Guitars
Derek Boyer // Bass
Eric Morotti // Drums

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With 2023 seemingly not content to let death metal fans catch their breath for even a moment, yet another iconic group is on the verge of dropping a new release. With fellow North American DM heroes Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Cryptopsy and Incantation all pumping out fresh albums this year, Suffocation are back with their first studio record in six and a half years, Hymns From The Apocrypha. With their first lineup being solidified at the very start of 1990, Suffocation are truly OGs in the death metal scene, with their ultra-low, guttural vocals and the incorporation of breakdowns/beatdowns/slams into blastbeat-filled tracks becoming staples of the genre.

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2017’s …Of The Dark Light was something of a transitory album from the East Coast five piece, marking the final release with founding vocalist Frank Mullen, whilst also introducing their newest members, guitarist Charlie Errigo and Eric Morotti behind the drums. Whilst that record was strong, albeit not amazing, Hymns from the Apocrypha feels like an LP by a band fully getting back into the swing of things. Things are off to a fast start with the opening title track, before we’re almost immediately treated to a classic Suffocation-style groove with some seriously twisted riffing. Boasting wild soloing and a heaving, unconventional song structure, the tune is a big statement of intent for things to come. ‘Perpetual Deception’ crams in even more spider-y guitar work, as well as a couple of astronomical slams, whilst the following ‘Dim Veil Of Obscurity’ is a galloping, speed demon of cut.

New frontman Ricky Meyers, also of San Diego brutality merchants Disgorge, slots into his new role with great ease – though, sounding somewhat similar to his predecessor does make his transition easier. He covers all the classic death metal range, delivering his low growls and harsh mids over perhaps the best sounding Suffocation effort to date. Co-produced by longtime members Terrence Hobbs and Derek Boyer, the crisp, clear mix from Canadian engineer and Cryptopsy guitarist Christian Donaldson is near-perfect. Suffocation’s rhythm section is particularly massive sounding, with Boyer’s bass clanking along beneath the guitars, whilst Morotti’s fantastic drum sound (the low-tuned snare in particular) is almost as impressive as his dominating playing.

Hymns From The Apocrypha first taster ‘Seraphim Enslavement’ flies by at whip-crack pace, it’s second half containing more great lead and rhythm guitar work from the duo of Hobbs and Errigo. ‘Immortal Extraction’ closes with an archetypal, lurching Suffocation half-breakdown/half-slam, while the six-string team pulls out some ringing dissonance on the intro of ‘Descendants’. Following the record’s two weakest moments, Hymns From The Apocrypha’s closes on a powerhouse note with the epic ‘Ignorant Deprivation’, boasting Meyer’s most tortured vocals and yet another monster slam, before one of the album's best riffs takes us home to the fade out.

No-one could blame Suffocation for going down a gear or two as they move into their fourth decade as a group, especially with the recent retirement of their legendary frontman Frank Mullen. But rather than throw in the towel, Suffocation have delivered a full length that is a tribute to their own past, and has a firm eye on the future of the act. Like most of Suffocation’s material there is no respite or quarter to be found on Hymns from the Apocrypha, with Hobbs and company old and new crafting nine songs of no-nonsense, bone-splitting death metal. Suffocation’s legacy in the land of extreme metal continues to stand powerfully, thanks to the ageless, merciless assault that is Hymns from the Apocrypha.