TRAUMA
This album proves that not all vanquished to the clearance bin is sub par. Furthermore, it also affirms that Poland is still rife with fresh talent capable of dealing out great, technically proficient Death Metal punishment. I blindly ordered this disc after seeing it at a bargain price and thought I'd try my hand at something I'd never heard before. Generally, I never do this, having been burned too many times. This time was clearly different. Suffocated In Slumber is chalk full of salivating, sanguinous Death Metal. TRAUMA are brutal, hard-hitting stuff but they know their trade like a seasoned butcher. Production standards for Suffocated In Slumber are slightly rare but completely professional and given the band's venomous style, it's little wonder they chose to let this sucker bleed like a stuck pig right out your speakers.TRAUMA strike gold with their unyielding drumwork and choppy guitar attack. Tracks like "Swallow The Murder" and "Dust" showcase some of the finest Death Metal you'll hear this side of Eastern Europe. While I would not completely put TRAUMA into a Technical Death Metal category, they do incorporate some nifty and complex sections at various times on Suffocated In Slumber. The lead playing too, is noteworthy (courtesy of Mistrust guitarist Tomasz Panzcak). Largely a mid-paced recording, the album exudes a traditional feel so you can discount the usage of those sparkling little melodies you've been spoiled with all these years. This is the type of album that was written for slaughterhouse workers and crime scene custodians. In my estimation this is the closest and best thing to fellow countrymen SCEPTIC's potent blend of raw aggression and crafty songwriting. The encouraging thing is that, if this band is still in existence, they've got loads of potential to do a lot more damage to our aural cavities.
This is one you don't want to put at the bottom of your list. If you claim to love good Death Metal, this is mandatory stuff. Just be sure and have your compliment of raw meat when you pick it up. It'll sure go down a lot easier that way.
