«Effigy of the Forgotten» is Suffocation’s first full-length album and it came out in 1991. It was recorded at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, with Scott Burns producing, and the cover art is by Dan Seagrave. The line-up is Frank Mullen on vocals, Terrance Hobbs and Doug Cerrito on guitars, Josh Barohn on bass and Mike Smith on drums.
“`Country: United States
Style: Brutal Death Metal
For fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Deicide
The record is one of the heaviest things ever released in the genre. The riffs are played either very fast, like a burst, or slow and clipped, and Mike Smith’s drums alternate blast beats with double hits that break up the rhythm. On top of that Frank Mullen sings with a deep, menacing growl.
Every track has something of its own: «Liege of Inveracity» has one of the heaviest breakdowns on the record, «Habitual Infamy» stands out for its snare hits, and «Infecting the Crypts» quickly became recognisable. Together with «Involuntary Slaughter» and «Reincremation», the whole thing has no low points.
The album is considered the starting point of brutal death metal. Suffocation laid the foundations that dozens of bands followed, starting with the most extreme scenes of Florida and New York, which took their style from here. It is an album that is not a pleasant listen, but it is hard to forget.
The band’s tight playing, the speed and weight of the riffs, and the way the tracks break from one pattern into another gave the next generations a template that many copied but few matched. That is why «Effigy of the Forgotten» still stands as one of the most influential debut records in extreme metal.
See also
Cannibal Corpse – Tomb of the Mutilated · Carcass – Heartwork.
