Label - Tartarus Records
Release Date - 26th May 2023
Words- Chris Fletcher
“God loves violence, why else would there be so much of it?” asks the sample at the beginning of track six ‘Grow’ and by that logic, and based on the entirety of ‘Collide’, 3rd album by Dutch grindcore outfit Suffering Quota, he must really love riffs. Released on Tartarus record, this ferocious blast of grind shows a band at the peak of their powers and one that is demanding attention in an already healthy scene.
Twelve tracks over the course of nineteen minutes might sound par for the course when it comes to this style of music, however, variations in song length as well as a mix of rhythms and dynamics mean that ‘Collide’ has you against the ropes for the duration all the while wondering what just hit you.
Opening track ‘Out’ starts with an almost confusing cacophony of strings before the familiar, but no less punishing, sound of the band welcomes you in. From here we fire through the next couple of tracks, experiencing crusty grindcore staples infused with some death metal and even a couple of breakdowns to stop you getting comfortable. A special mention is also reserved for closing track ‘Scorn’, clocking in at over four minutes this is positively an epic in the grindcore sense and on this song the band do their best to show us all the variation they are capable of.
Every track on the album has a short one-word title which perfectly mirrors the no-nonsense approach and straight-to-the-point attitude that is found all over this album. That’s not to say that there isn’t any experimentation at all, opening samples and string intros mentioned earlier show a band not afraid to flex their extreme metal muscles in order to achieve their artistic visions.
Much more than just a standard grindcore affair, this is a multifaceted beatdown that could and should prove pivotal in cementing Suffering Quota's seat at the top table of modern grindcore. Are you a fan of Discordance Axis and Wormrot? Of course you are and the mere mention of those bands should be enough to whet anyone’s appetite.
Putting it plainly, any self-respecting fan of grindcore owes it to themselves to get this record in your ears, ideally multiple times as you descend into the depths and have your mind ground to pieces, in a good way. When the dust settles, it's easy to see this being heralded as one of the best grindcore albums of the year.
8.5/10.
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