SUSPERIA - NORWAY - THRASH METAL
Here we are to present and review "We are the ones" kick ass celebratory release of Susperia, Norwegian Thrash-Heavy metal legends! Without a doubt a great album for the band, combining their new and old sound. Finally the fans will have the chance to hear the bands early '99 Demo "Illusions of Evil" in its first release ever.
This album not only shows the early Thrashed Black Metal primal identity of Susperia but also the new Thrash-Heavy Metal ones, all with an outstanding sound quality and the majestic add of the symphonic spice by Øyvind "Mustis" Mustaparta (ex-Dimmu Borgir). A smashing way to celebrate 10 years of releases and 12 years of existence, always with the same line-up, which is so damn hard to achieve this days! A piece out in the symbolic date of 11.11.11 not to be missed not only by Susperia fans but anyone with open Metal mind that likes good quality Metal without any special labels, just good sound!
NeKronos Promotion HELL
SUSPERIA - We are the Ones - 2011 - SMG Records
Genre : Trash-Heavy Metal - Thrashed Black-Death Metal (Demo)
"We are the ones who don't back down
We shall remain when all are gone
Together rise and feel the sound
As one we stand and hold our ground(...)" We are the ones - We are the ones
Susperia as many of you should know are one of the best bands to come from Norwegian lands, born in 1999 with ex-members of Dimmu Borgir, Old Man's Child, Satyricon. It wasn't strange that they started with a Blackened Thrash Metal sound by that time, an outstanding sound with the add of smashing keyboard-art by the hands of Mustis (at the time on Dimmu Borgir). The band left for good the blackened Metal approach after their debut release and embraced a powerful Thrash-Heavy Metal sound. Creating, by then, their own identity as a band, something that lasted till today's days! These "We are the ones" celebratory release takes you in a trip through times, collecting some of the best tracks done by the band so far with the amazing add of Mustis orchestrations and ending up with the long awaited release of their '99 Demo remastered "Illusions of Evil", something the fans shouldn't miss at all. Susperia experience talks by itself, toured with metal colossus like Dimmu Borgir, Destruction, Testament, W.A.S.P. and several other bands, yet they even participated on 2011 Norwegian Eurovision song contest. Through the years their sound has been perfected and away from the common Norwegian Metal of darkest forms.
"We are the ones" out in the symbolic date of 11.11.11 marks 10 years of Susperia releases and a great end of the circle with the participation of Mustis who also took part of Susperia primal beginning with a quite characteristic Norwegian Black Metal sound, reminding you of bands like Dimmu Borgir, Old Man's Child, Immortal, Dragonlord or even bands like Death due to all their technically developed attributes. On their debut "Predominance" they already skipped the use of keyboards and from that time on they turned their sound into a powerful Thrash-Heavy Metal, sounding way more alike classic Heavy/Thrash Metal bands such as Testament, Pantera, Megadeth and other Metal classics than their early blackened influences. This celebration album instead of becoming a "best of..." kind of release, becomes a journey into their outstanding musical career, from present times to deep primal ones!
The production of "We are the ones" is a smashing work from Strand Studio, Norway. Where the new and old material was worked out so it would be sounding Susperia as Hell!!
The newer tracks have received an outstanding symphonic work. It brings all the musical work to the next level of greatness, not overdone, but a perfect fit to the tracks. Without a doubt an awesome add of Øyvind "Mustis" Mustaparta geniality! After 12 years and the conservation of their original line-up, which is so hard these days, this is a really symbolic musical union!
For those those who are not so much familiarized with Susperia sound, let's just say that their current sound is a smashing combo between traditional Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal, considered by many to be one of the best examples of Norwegian Metal sound this days and away from the usual Black Metal that has been so over-used over Norwegian lands. The amazing tuned vocals from Athera, the outstanding drum diversity and skills of Tjodalv (ex-Dimmu), the genial riffs, rhythms and leads by Cyrus (ex-Satyricon(live), Dimmu (live)) and Elvorn then the awesome bass work by Memnock (ex-Old Mans Child) sure take Susperia out of the pack and put them where they belong... at the top of what is being done on Metal this days!
This is a high quality release divided in two parts, first the new songs and orchestral re-recorded classics, then the official release of their demo. The first part starts with the new melodic title track "We are the ones" that is a song about perseverance, the band survived in metal all this year's even in hard times such as Athera heart attack and Tjodalv broken leg and all adversities, feels like they shall remain no matter what! Follows, three re-recorded tracks from their previous albums, "Devil may care","The bitter man" and "Cut from stone", the first is a classic metal ballad that counts with a kids choir, the second goes way darker and disturbed with the added orchestrations and the third is a dynamic melodious track. These songs remind us of the constant need to move on and lead our life's actively to the best, careless behaviour will lead you nowhere! The first part ends up with "Nothing remains" highlight melodic power track featured on 2011 Eurovision contest, it has all the right musical structure to triumph on this constantly changing world where we all need to adapt and move on in life no matter what!!
The second and most darkened part of the release starts with fast and devilish track "The Hellchild" father of Candarian demons, quickly followed by the majestic and dynamic track "Illusions of Evil" where the true Evil is nothing but the illusions of good, then comes one of my personal favourite tracks of Susperia "Of hate we breed" a natural headbanging tune for "souls forlorn, from darkness born, Diabolical seed, Of hate" they breed! "The Coming Of a Darker Time" is an epic darkened piece followed up by "Behind Consecrated Walls" a thrashed melodic fast ending track for this great album.
In all "We are the ones" takes you deep into Susperia new and old sound, all combined and solidified by the outstanding orchestrations of Mustis. The new tracks never sounded better and the old stuff surely will please the adepts of the usual Norwegian Blackened Metal quality sound. Better than a "best of..." they bring us all a smashing celebratory album with allot of spice for every metalhead likes. With "We are the ones" Susperia show why they are often named as one of the best Norwegian bands of this days, their sound has an own identity and soul, they "are the ones who don't back down". A release for all Susperia fans as well as metalheads with open minds and worshipers of good Metal music without any blindfolds by genres or labels! Susperia "shall remain when all are gone"!!
RüPä - NeKronos Promotion HELL
RATE: 8,5/10
Here is the Tracklist for the album:
SUSPERIA - "We are the ones" - CD 2011
01 - We are the Ones – New song composed with Mustis 2011
02 - Devil May Care (Orchestral version 2011) – Originally from “Unlimited” 2004
03 - The Bitter Man (Orchestral version 2011) – Originally from “Vindication” 2002
04 - Cut From Stone (Orchestral version 2011) – Originally from “Cut From Stone” 2007
05 - Nothing Remains – Eurovision Song Contest contribution 2011
The 1999 “Illusions Of Evil” Demo remastered:
06 - The Hellchild (DEMO version 1999) – Re-recorded on “Predominance”2001
07 - Illusions Of Evil (DEMO version 1999) – Re-recorded on “Predominance”
08 - Of Hate We Breed (DEMO version 1999) – Re-recorded on “Predominance”
09 - The Coming Of a Darker Time (DEMO version 1999) – Re-recorded on “Predominance”
10 - Behind Consecrated Walls (DEMO version 1999) – Only previously released in studio album version in South Korea as bonus track on “Predominance”
Total playing time = 47m
Recording Line-up:
Athera - Vocals
Tjodalv - Drums
Cyrus - Guitars
Elvorn - Guitars
Memnock - Bass
Mustis (guest) - Keyboards
Check Out the Teaser for the album "We are the ones" : http://youtu.be/Pn9ntBIzas8
For further Information check:
Official Site: WWW.SUSPERIA.NET
Official MySpace: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SUSPERIAFANS
Official YouTube: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/SUSPERIAOFFICIAL
Official Reverbnation: WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/SUSPERIA
Official Facebook: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SUSPERIA
General Contact: susperia.band@gmail.com