SUICIDE SILENCE

The Cleansing

Century Media

6.5 / 10

Track listing:

01. Revelations (intro)
02. Unanswered
03. Hands of a Killer
04. The Price of Beauty
05. The Fallen
06. No Pity for a Coward
07. The Disease
08. Bludgeoned to Death
09. Girl of Glass
10. In a Photograph
11. Eyes Sewn Shut
12. Green Monster

The wheels of the hype machine have been turning for months in a quest to show the world that "The Cleansing" from Riverside, California's SUICIDE SILENCE has something new to offer the world of extreme metal. That's what hype machines are supposed to do, regardless of the degree of fact supporting the claims. In this case of "The Cleansing", the facts do not necessarily support the rooftop PR shouts. That does not mean that "The Cleansing" is pitiful release though, only that it won't make most folks utter phrases like, "Wow, this is unlike anything I've heard before." In essence, what you heard from bands like WHITE CHAPEL and THE ACACIA STRAIN will be heard to a significant extent on this debut offering. In other words, "The Cleansing" is all about ridiculously down tuned guitars, a thick 'n' rubbery rhythm section, and death growls that alternate with lunatic shrieks.

It is a case of no big downside, yet no big upside either. If it is brutality that you want, then "The Cleansing" will give you plenty of opportunities to break shit and stalk your estranged wife. Bursts of grindcore savagery and death metal pummel meet sections of sonic bulldozing and a few nifty time signature changeups. That low-end rumble does indeed serve its purpose and the anger conveyed can be downright frightening. All of it is basically enjoyable and surely better than average. Hell, exposure to the album's 43 minutes will undoubtedly send you running for anything remotely resembling peace and quiet, as this is one nerve-fraying experience. A handful of memorable, albeit venom spitting, lines and a few cool arrangements make are positives too.

All these things make "The Cleansing" a relatively worthwhile listen, but by no means a mandatory one. Although not identical to what is played on this album, WHITE CHAPEL delivers their down-tuned death/grind in more convincing fashion. Above the 50th percentile, but with the band's full potential not quite met, some will love it and several will find it a little better than just ok. I was initially thinking a "6", but the disc is probably a hair better than that.

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