Devil's Gate Music
Related Articles
Back in the UK for the first time this year, original death metallers Suffocation brought their Embrace the Suffering tour to Slay, Glasgow. Support came from Nuclear Blast label mates Mélancolia and Fuming Mouth, Vancouver’s Carcosa, and seven man AngelMaker.
First up were Australia’s Mélancolia. I always think being first on the bill is probably the hardest, it’s often fairly empty, people are gabbing and the atmosphere hasn’t had a chance to build. But Mélancolia didn’t let that get them down, A for effort. All things considered, they did alright. But bold parting words from frontman Alex Hill, ‘love us or hate us, you will remember us’ were maybe slightly optimistic.
Up next were Carcosa, who blew Mélancolia out of the water. Despite only having three members, they had a big presence, and even bigger noise. Vocalist Johnny Ciardullo summed up their sound, ‘we play breakdowns’. And they certainly did. Very well, and lots of them. ‘I know it’s a Monday night, but I literally do not give a fuck’, and nor did anyone else by the time Carcosa were through.
Slight change of pace with Fuming Mouth, combining a range of speeds and styles, and even some clean vocals (in short supply tonight). Their hardcore-infused brand of death metal maybe wasn’t what Suffocation’s crowd were after. However, in a different line-up/setting, I’m sure they would’ve gone down very well.
The fourth and final support act were AngelMaker. With seven members it was a tight fit on Slay’s small stage. Despite ‘a mountain of technical issues’, their set was immense. Vocalist Ian Bearer played the whole thing with no ear pieces, as well as issues with the monitors. They didn’t let this get to them though, storming through their set at full speed. Very popular with the audience (first ‘here we’ chant of the night), anyone who wasn’t already a fan surely will be now. Sharing members with Carcosa, AngelMaker also do breakdowns, but more. Very moshable, very fun and very noisy, exactly what the people wanted.
Finally onto the main event, Suffocation. Although they weren’t on until after 10, they made sure Glasgow was still wide awake. Consistently good every time, this was no exception. As ever they played relentlessly fast, never missing a beat, and hardly drawing breath. It’s obvious the band have got it down. A long set, in metal terms anyway, they kept it heavy until after 11. Good value for money, bad if you had a train to catch.
The only possible criticism is that the ‘new’ songs aren’t super new anymore. However, with a touring schedule as full on as theirs, you can’t blame them. In fairness, these songs are still new, off the last album, Hymns from the Apocrypha. And although it did only come out in November of 2023, so hardly old, this is the third UK tour since its release. No word yet of a new album, but a break from touring to record is surely due.
The tour continues across Europe. Suffocation then join Carnifex on a US tour alongside Distant, Bodybox, Devourment and Monochromatic Black. With a Latin American tour of their own in between. Again, relentless touring schedule.
Review – Morven Connolly
Photo credits: Jason Carlson
Remaining tour dates:
10.03.25 Italy Bologna @ Locomotiv
11.03.25 Slovenia Ljubljana @ Orto bar
12.03.25 Hungary Budapest @ Barba Negra
13.03.25 Czech Republic Brno @ Fleda
14.03.25 Germany Erfurt @ Central
15.03.25 Germany Heidelberg @ Heidelberg Deathfest *
16.03.25 Austria Vienna @ Szene
17.03.25 Poland Warsaw @ Proxima
18.03.25 Germany Leipzig @ Felsenkeller
19.03.25 Germany Berlin @ Hole44
20.03.25 Germany Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli
21.03.25 Sweden Gothenburg @ Filmstudion
22.03.25 Sweden Stockholm @ Kollektivet Livet
23.03.25 Norway Oslo @ John Dee
25.03.25 Finland Helsinki @ Ääniwalli
26.03.25 Finland Tampere @ Olympia
28.03.25 Denmark Copenhagen @ Pumpehuset
29.03.25 The Netherlands Nijmegen @ Doornroosje
30.03.25 Belgium Antwerp @ Samhain Festival **
* No Mélancolia
** Suffocation + Fuming Mouth only
More Information:
www.facebook.com/suffocation
