PRESS RELEASE:
Eternal War
by Suffering Rites
Tracklist:
1.Eternal War 05:42
2.Overlord 03:36
3.Dark Future 03:50
4.Blinding Light 05:35
For limited edition cassette sales, please visit Macho Records:
machorecord.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-war
Battle-hardened Glasgow death metallers get ready for war with all-guns-blazing debut EP…
Words: Sam Law
The rumbling grind of diesel-fuelled tank tracks. Piercing rat-a-tat machine-gun fire. Distant obliterations. An endless chorus of moans of the dying and screams of the hopeless left behind…
War is hell. Its infernal soundscape has been the backdrop for the darkest moments in human history. Yet there is a primal need to return and re-examine that darkness – a morbid fascination, somewhere between bloodlust and horror – that means we cannot help but look back at the damage wrought and wonder how we, as individuals and as a species, are capable of such carnage.
Suffering Rites distill that chaotic captivation into soul-rattling sound. Across the four tracks of cast-iron first EP Eternal War, the Glasgow quintet – vocalist Kenny Campbell, guitarists Andy Cattigan and Joe McGonagle, bassist C and drummer Steve Wilkinson – build on the rich history of death metal to weave a weighty but nuanced picture not just of the awesome destruction of warfare, but also of the psychological and emotional trauma that’s still being inflicted around the world in 2024.
“We’re don’t write ‘War Metal’,” stresses the band. “We write metal about war. It’s brutal. It’s horrible. In the end, no-one wins. Mostly, we reflect those truths in sonic, rather than philosophical ways, but this is also encouraging people to understand the violence of history so as not to repeat it.”
Indeed, Suffering Rites are the latest product from a Scottish scene that’s flourishing through co-operation rather than conflict. Through outfits like Coffin Mulch, Penny Coffin, Rancid Cadaver, BrainBath, Enucleate, Party Cannon and Scordatura the UK’s frosty far north has become a breeding ground for truly cutting-edge heavy music. Veterans of acts like Circle of Tyrants and In Tongues (GHC) – Kenny also sings in BrainBath – Suffering Rites is all about adding their horsepower.
“We’ve never seen anything like what’s happening just now,” the band continues. “It’s incredible, not just to see every show absolutely rammed, but to have that atmosphere where people are moshing from start to finish – for bands from here. It’s also an incredibly supportive scene. From putting on shows to encouraging people to actually get out there and turn up to them to actually helping push forward with getting this EP out, it’s meant so much. We’ve had offers to help with artwork; to get cassette tapes made; to have songs played on the radio. It’s a great environment to be part of!”
The resultant songs are staggering. From the uncompromising ferocity of the opening title-track via the pulverising swagger of Overlord and blast-beaten highlight Dark Future to bludgeoning, shapeshifting, cataclysmic closer Blinding Light, the incorporation of hardcore, thrash and even black metal influences adds untold dimension to an already heavily-armoured attack.
Big on riffs. Big on atmosphere. Big on potential. It’s a frightening first release from a band who’ve already been ripping it up onstage for months, and a promise of so much more to come. Just don’t even think about getting in their way. Because only in death does duty end...
released March 1, 2024
Bass: C
Guitars: Joe
Drums: Steve
Vocals: Kwondo
Guitars: Cattigan
Drums recorded at Sonorous Studios by Guillaume Martin
Guitars, bass and vocals recorded at Cattigan Kitchen Studios.
Logo & design: Kendo | Cover Artwork: Bozza.Art
Inner & Merch Artwork: Caleb Dickenson
Produced/Mastered: Andrew Cattigan & Guillaume Martin
Solo on 'Dark future' performed by Neil Erskine
https://sufferingrites.bandcamp.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/sufferingritesdm
