Search - Suffocation :: Breeding the Spawn

Incredible music, unfortunate production flaws

M. C Dufournaud | Canada | 08/06/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was my first Suffocation CD. Having been introduced to them by various friends, I decided to check out a few mp3s of the band. I happened to come across ''Breeding the Spawn'' and as soon as I heard it, I knew the album had to be mine.



When I first spun the CD in my discman and set it to track 2, I became worried that something was wrong with my copy of the album. ''Breeding the Spawn'' sounded nothing like what it did on my computer. Washed out, thin guitar sounds, terrible bass production and an overall weak aural environment. It was soon later that I realized this was no mistake, the CD had been recorded this way.



I gave the album a few more spins and listened through it in its entirety half-a-dozen times, but it still did nothing for me. When I knew I was hearing a crushing, technical riff it had no impact on me. It is quite obvious Mike Smith is a talented, passionate drummer, but this album's muffled production completely eliminates the feeling of power his beats should reflect. Chris Richards shows off his stuff all over the album, but his bass guitar is barely discernible, even in between the already thin sounding guitars and drums.



Frank Mullen competently takes care of the vocals, but the majority of the album's lyrics are often silly and riddled with grammar mistakes. Combined with the quality of the sound representation, he is difficult to take seriously.



And yet, who can deny the technicality and wizardry of the music? Cerrito and Hobbs are always ahead of the listener, dizzying with their whipping riffs and furious solos. Mike Smith's beats are varied and plentiful without sounding directionless and his blast beats are punishingly accurate. Chris Richards, when one listens in closely, demonstrates talent far beyond what most death metal bass players can dish out, never content to simply follow the lead of the twin guitars.





This album would have been a true masterpiece, but for many it will remain inaccessible because of its production. Buyer beware, if you think you will be bothered by this."

A must've in your collection!

sickeningore | massachusetts | 10/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I still remenber when i first heard "breeding the spawn" by suffocation and my first re-action was, " these guys can play" because the songs are so technical,complex,intelligent,original, and,it defines the word brutal...Yet being so soothing to listing to at the sametime. It's hard to pick a favorite song but if i had to pick? It would be "beginning of sorrow" a amazing song. All hail to suffocation!"

Suffocation does it again with brutal technical NY death!

tetenbaum | Los Angeles, CA | 08/11/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"DON'T LET THE OK PRODUCTION FOOL YOU! This is one of the best Suffocation albums. Yeah, yeah track 3 & 8 sounds funny and the double bass is sort of muddy but this CD contains some of death metal's finest riffs and percussion work. Frank Mullen maintains great brutal vocals throughout the album and their new bassist at the time, Chris Richards greatly enhances the sound of the guitars and drums by slapping at key moments. Terrance Hobbs and Doug Cerrito didn't let me down when I listened to this CD for the first time. The riffs are as brutal yet melodic as they have always been for Suffocation. Breeding the Spawn isn't has highly evolved as the masterpiece "Pierced From Within" but still this album is definately worth owning. For those who are new to Suffocation, its like early Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse, only more brutal and with more syncopation and tempo changes. Order this great rare death metal album now while it still exists!"