Countdown to MDF X: (3) Suffocation

Suffocation is from Long Island, New York. This will be evident the minute vocalist Frank Mullen opens his mouth to speak, which he is want to do between songs. When the band begins to play, however, you will forget all about his New YAWK accent and turn your attention to not being killed in the mosh pit.

Did I say Suffocation plays brutal death metal? Did I say they were pioneers of the genre? Be warned. Suffocation plays outside on Sunday evening at the Maryland Deathfest and the violence that will undoubtably erupt will be on concrete and asphalt. There will be blood, my friends, there WILL be blood.

The current line up of Suffocation includes the aforementioned Frank Mullen (Vocals), Terrance Hobbs  (Guitars), Guy Marchais (Guitars), Derek Boyer (Bass),  and the recent return of drummer Dave Culross who played for the group in the late 1990s.

The following live video is not the best looking, but the sound and feeling of Suffocation's live performance are accurately captured. Expect to be obliterated.

Previous drummer Mike Smith is seen in this music video from 2009. 

Countdown to MDF X: (56) Dying Fetus

Dying Fetus, a technical death metal band from Upper Marlboro (in my homeland of Prince Georges County) Maryland, has steadily gained national and international acclaim since their inception in 1991.  Their guitar and drumming prowess in undeniable. Their vocals are guttural and unforgiving.

The band includes only original member John Gallagher - Guitar,Vocals; Sean Beasley - Bass,Vocals and Trey Williams - Drums. This Relapse recording artist makes a good addition to the Thursday, May 24 line up for Maryland Deathfest X. The band was featured most recently on the Metal Alliance Tour with Devil Driver, Faceless, Job for a Cowboy et al.  Then following the MDF X, they will embark on summer tour with Six Feet Under and Revocation. They will make a short stop in Frederick, MD at Cafe 611, only with Revocation and local support on June 6.

Dying Fetus is on par with a band like Suffocation, which originated from the New York Death Metal scene. Yet, Dying Fetus deserves special recognition because they are among the few bands that by sheer force of will and perseverance put the state of Maryland on the map for metal, They are also probably the only group with the technical ability, artistry, and creative skills to be thought of as Maryland's original death metal band [in my opinion]. Perhaps because they were spawned so close to the nation's capital, their lyrics often invoke political themes. This fact sets them apart intellectually from some others in the death metal cohort that focus on gore and violence.