Death metal and I go way back—we're old friends at this point. Back in the day, I was absolutely obsessed; I knew every single lineup change and every drummer's name, and I used to spend my time snapping photos with all my idols at shows. These days, though, most of my listening happens while I'm hitting it hard at the gym, mostly just blasting the classics:
suffocation, Morbid Angel, Gorguts, Immolation, Hate Eternal, Monstrosity, old-school Entombed, Dismember, Unleashed, Cryptopsy, and a whole mountain of others.
The absolute peak was definitely that 89-93 era... those albums are pure gold, whether you're talking about that Florida sound or the Swedish school.
For me personally, Suffocation has always been the GOAT. I actually caught them during their reunion back in 2007—they were playing a Kill or Be Killed tour set at a swampy venue, which is basically what it felt like, and they did the same show in a similar vibe over in a nearby US city. They signed all my CDs, even gave me a hoodie as a gift, and I actually got to hang out backstage with them.
Take Gojira, for instance—I've been following them since the link album. They're an awesome band, even if they mix up different styles; they just have that killer groove that hits different.
But when I get home feeling totally wiped or just need to blow off some steam—even with everything else I listen to now—nothing beats crushing a workout to straight-up death metal. It’s just how I roll. I was never really into the whole "look" or the fashion side of things; I just genuinely loved and understood the music.
There’s nothing better than cranking through Suffocation’s Effigy of the Forgotten, Pierced from Within, or the Despise the Sun EP.
Check out this brutal footage of the Funeral Inception stuff, specifically the first one with Despise the Sun. You won't hear Frank Mullen on vocals here, but man, this recording absolutely destroys.
