SUSPERIA Cut from Stone (2007)

10 May 2007
SUSPERIA Cut from Stone (2007)
  • Лейбъл: Tuba Records / Wizard
  • Издаден: 2007
  • Aвтор: Ивайло Александров
  • Оценка:
With their fourth full-length album Susperia flatly part ways with the black metal roots of the double core of the band - Tjodalv (drums) and Cyrus (guitars) - and rush deep in the depths of melodic thrash metal, but the plunging in this case is not the best decision. The band will definitely gain applause from fans of Testament, but the ones who have expected something more than a softer continuation of "Unlimited" are more likely to remain disappointed. "More" opens the CD with proper, hard, pure metal. The songs coming after follow one and the same direction - melodic lines, straightforwardness and, no matter how hard it is to say it for a band from which I expected more - staleness. The tracks cover up each other, and sometimes it even seems like part of them are not needed... There are a few songs, however, protruding above the others. "Distant Memory" shows the band in a new light with its lyrical start and the clean singing of Athera, the beautiful solos in "Life Depraved" are melodic and harmonic, "Under" surprises with its almost pop sound, and the title track crushes with lead heaviness in mid-tempo, catchy guitar passages and strong vocal parts. And that's it. Compared to the previous records of the band, "Cut from Stone" impresses with a more melodic sound and variety, but it definitely lacks the dark heaviness and aggressive straightforwardness of the former two albums. Generally, "Cut from Stone" continues the musical direction of "Unlimited", but it has not preserved the heaviness and the creative ideas of its predecessor. The CD offers nice and stiff metal performed by experienced musicians, but it lacks identity. Seen as a consecutive piece of the discography, it finds its place, but Susperia are able to do much more. I firmly believe that this album is just an appetizer for the main dish of bleeding meat.