SUFFER UK - Pendulum Of Vengeance Review

(Image: Photo Credit; Chris at Brooker Films) 

Conceived in the deepest darkest depths of the black country, Wolverhampton’s Suffer burst onto the UK’s underground live scene in 2019.  It’s difficult for new bands to get gigs as it is, yet Suffer have amassed an enviable list of support acts that include Decapitated, Black Tongue and Signs Of Swarm since their live debut. Listening to their crushing and slamming brand of deathcore, it’s easy to see why they’ve landed such prestigious slots and why they’ve been able to tour the UK extensively in this time. Their debut full length “The Sorrow We Know, The Hatred We Know’ showcases their brutal no holds barred approach to this darker side of metal. Since then, the band have experienced changes in personnel with Greg and Klaudiusz joining on vocals and guitars respectively. As such, what can we expect on ‘Pendulum Of Vengeance’, the first single featuring this new blood? Let’s see…

No fancy introductions, just straight into the action! Greg sounds like a man possessed, reaching sickening low gutturals and inhuman shrieks! The lyrics - which tackle the theme of exacting revenge on those who have done wrong to you and the satisfaction that comes with that – leave no room for misinterpretation such is the on the nose and blunt delivery. The drums, bass, and guitars lock in to create tight punishing slam rhythms in the early stages of the song. Whilst being delivered with absolute unmitigated venom, they aren’t something we haven’t already heard in the genre. That being said, the magic in this single is with the sheer infernal atmosphere and apocalyptic grandeur that is piled on you, the poor listener! This achieved via subtle deployment of orchestral strings and not-so-subtle biblically heavy synths and sub drops that can crush buildings! They add a dissonant unsettling quality, making you reflect upon and contemplate your own perilous mortality. No light can possible escape it’s murky depths and venues better reinforce their walls when Suffer role into town next. This is heavy!

If this is a preview of what they’ve been up to in the studio and a primer for what else is to come, let’s just say we’re in for something very special!