* Suffocation Discografy

Genre: Brutal Technical Death Metal
Lyrical Theme : Death, Religion, Mankind, Society
Origin: United States of America (Centereach, New York)
Formed in: 1989
Current line-up:
Frank Mullen - Vocals
Terrance Hobbs - Guitars
Guy Marchais - Guitars
Derek Boyer - Bass
Dave Culross - Drums

In death metal history, Suffocation stands unique for fusing the technical with the percussive, brutal "older" styles of death metal as well as for being emulated more than any other band. Forming in 1989, SUFFOCATION quickly released their 3-song debut Re-incremation. Within weeks of its existence came the interest of many labels who wanted to claim stake to the first SUFFOCATION full length album. The band chose to release it's follow-up, “Human Waste” Ep (info | shop), through Relapse Records in 1991. Complex and unrelentingly savage, "Human Waste" saw Suffocation bash out the beginnings of death metal's most visible style, the "New York" combination of blasting grind core beats and metallic textures. This was only but the beginning... In 1991The now classic, “Effigy of the Forgotten” (info | shop) was released via Roadrunner Records. Effigy... took the rhythmic relentlessness of hardcore beats, put them into speed metal structures and overlaid off-time counterpoint structures. "Effigy of the Forgotten" took SUFFOCATION to a new plane, taking the multiple languages of music and unifying them in an evocative, thundering chorus of death metal. In 1993's the band released their 2nd full length album “Breeding The Spawn” (info | shop) via Roadrunner Records.

Thunderously heavy and rigorously artistic, "Breeding The Spawn" surpassed expectations. Highly rhythmic, Suffocation's second album built on the legacy of their first with more emphasis on the bearing weight of repeated changing / off time rhythms (see later day practitioners MESHUGGAH) and a SLAYER-derived sense of melody.. After the release of “Breeding the Spawn” SUFFOCATION hit the road for months on end bringing their jaw-dropping live performances to both their devoted legions of followers, and hordes of wide-eyed new devotees.. Following the release of 1995's “Pierced From Within” (info) via roadrunner Records, SUFFOCATION embarked on successful tours of Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, playing to thousands and enjoying increased album sales. In 1998, Suffocation released the EP, “Despise the Sun” (info) via Vulture Records. "Despise the Sun" contained A savage example of engaging, energetic and insightful death metal with no letup in intensity. In September of 2000 Relapse Records reissued “Despise the Sun”.

The increased awareness and exposure led many to believe that SUFFOCATION were ready to reclaim their rightful place atop death / extreme metal's hierarchy In June, 2003, and, as a testament to their universally-recognized impact on the genre, SUFFOCATION was profiled on both "Uranium" and MTV2's "Head bangers Ball" which would be the first of many in- studio appearances to come. Suffocation now has two videos currently airing on “Head bangers Ball” weekly. The wildly influential band entered The recording studio in the Winter, 2003 to begin recording their first full album of new material since "Pierced From Within" , entitled “Souls to Deny” (info | shop) via Relapse records a truly devastating display of technical death metal. In April, 2004 “Souls to Deny” was released and the band hit the road with extensive touring and has yet to let up. 400+ shows and countless US and European tours later , SUFFOCATION once again entered the recording studio to release upon the World their most matured and destructive album of their now Legendary career . The self titled 2006 release "SUFFOCATION" further propels the band to the forefront of the Death metal genre proving why Suffocation has solidly held its position as one of the most important and influential bands the Death metal genre has seen to date. In September Suffocation along with the services of Video director Dale Resteghini completed their first video in support of the New album. The video for the song “Abomination Reborn” which debuted on Mtv’s Head bangers Ball in early October 2006, just prior to the start of their 7 week Fall US tour.

Most American death metal painted itself into a corner years ago, but SUFFOCATION, through musicality, inventiveness, and sheer conviction, continue to invent ways to push the envelope and inject personality into the Extreme metal genre. "Suffocation" (info | shop), the album, is a multi-dimensional death metal feast that never forgets its primary mission to beat the listener into submission. In 2006 the band was hired by the cable network A&E and the History Channel to use and perform one of their original songs “Bind, torture, Kill” in a commercial to advertise the History Channel documentary “The Dark Ages”. This commercial was advertised in over 700 movie theatres as well as aired on MTV, VHI, A&E and the History Channel. This opportunity helped to further propel the bands already legendary status amongst the pioneers of all things extreme. Check out Suffocation's "Unmerciful Reign North America Tour 2007" - October 25th-November 18th