If I had to pick one song off this EP that encapsulated what Suffering Hour was all about, I would choose the eight-and-a-half-minute long epic “Enthralled In Lunacy Abyss.” The essence of this band cannot be captured in any smaller amount of time. There is a certain twist about this EP that keeps it refreshing and new even after multiple spins. Songs such as the opener “Truths of the Unknown,” “Infected Skull,” and “Enthralled in Lunacy Abyss” are rooted in death and thrash metal, but what makes this band so fresh is the way they integrate other genres so seamlessly into the fabric of their songs. For example, “Truths” begins with an ominous intro and segues into pummeling death-thrash, and suddenly spacey clean guitars take over á la “Focus” era Cynic. A few bars of this suddenly give way to post-rock-style distorted guitar chords that come out of the speakers like an ocean tide. What really makes these song structures brilliant is that nothing ever sounds out of place – the ideas may be innovative, but they never get confusing.

The standout track, as I noted earlier, is hands down “Enthralled In Lunacy Abyss.” Most of the things that draw me to this band are found on this song. Forward thinking black metal riffs introduce the familiar death-thrash and post-rock themes found throughout the rest of the EP. A half-time section and a groove section add more dimensions to this already multifaceted piece.

While still being forward thinking, Suffering Hour are still capable of producing straight-up old-school death metal. “A Dismal Beyond” is the closest thing to a genre study that you can get from a band like this, and the instrumental “Prog-Thrashing Death” demonstrates a tightness that some bands spend entire careers trying to achieve. This tightness is due in no small part to drummer Jason Oberuc’s well-thought-out drumming. I’d also like to give a shout-out to bassist and vocalist Dylan Haseltine’s bass breaks on this track: they make the track for me.

 Few other groups come to mind that have the same tenacity and raw energy as these guys and are able to channel it as well, and I’m not just saying that because the guitarist (Josh Raiken) is a Blaine High School alumnus. In the past year, these guys have really made a splash in the Minneapolis metal scene, and judging by the reception I’ve seen this EP get, they’re set to make an even bigger splash in the future.

-ZS