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Souls to Deny is Suffocation's first release since 1998's Despise the Sun EP, and their first full-length since 1995's Pierced From Within. Since they'd been on hiatus for a while, this is technically a "reunion album," but it doesn't feel like one. Interestingly, Suffocation haven't really changed their basic style much at all since those earlier releases, yet this album still sounds completely current in terms of the present-day death metal scene -- probably because so many bands continue to be influenced by Suffocation's early- to mid-'90s albums. However, even though the surface-level characteristics of the band's sound haven't changed, there is still plenty of ingenuity and sleight-of-hand happening below the surface. Standouts include opener "Deceit," the title track, "Immortally Condemned," and the amazing "Demise of the Clone," whose cyclical riffs give the odd impression of repeating while at the same time having no beginning or end. The song offers a concise summary of what makes this band so revered by death metal aficionados. There seems to be a sort of hidden logic at work in it, since it's hard for even an astute listener to figure out what's going on in terms of the song structure, yet it obviously all makes perfect sense to the band, who deliver this perplexing material with a natural, freely flowing sense of brutality. Many bands have attempted to copy Suffocation's sound, and most of them are extremely boring because they either don't grasp the subtleties or don't have the intuition that these guys obviously possess as songwriters and musicians. "Souls to Deny" is a reminder of what makes good death metal good, and a refreshing break from the uninspired landfill fodder that constitutes so much of the genre's output circa the early- to mid-'00s. ~ William York, All Music Guide
Injury deals blow to TV rockers
Bassist Jason Newsted suffers major shoulder injury, forcing bandmates Tommy Lee and Gilby Clarke to hunt for a bassist for their upcoming tour.
Rock Star Supernova, the supergroup formed by CBS for the reality show Rock Star, has been dealt yet another setback. Bassist Jason Newsted has suffered a major shoulder injury, according to a statement from the band.
Supernova
The injury, which will sideline the former Metallica bassist for up to nine months, comes less than a month before the band is set to release its debut album.
Newsted will require immediate surgery after tearing his left bicep and rotator cuff while trying to catch a bass that had fallen off an amplifier, the band said.
"I'm freaking out," Newsted said in a statement. "My heart was set on finally getting on the road with these guys, but my main focus now is to build myself back to 100 percent. The stage is set for the band, I wish them the best of luck."
The band, which also featured drummer Tommy Lee, guitarist Gilby Clarke, and vocalist Lukas Rossi, who won the Rock Star show, still plans to release its debut album November 21. The band will kick off its first tour December 31 in Las Vegas; the search for a replacement for Newsted is already under way.
"When we started this project, I was handed a list of names--guys who could potentially anchor our rhythm section," Lee said in a statement. "I responded by crumpling up the paper and asking, 'Where's Newsted?' Jason was always the right guy for this band and we'll miss having him with us as we kick off our album and tour, but we know he'll be back as soon as he can pick up and play."
Rock Star Supernova was initially called Supernova but chaged the name because a Southern California band of the same name sued the band and CBS for trademark infringement, and a judge issued an injunction forcing the band to change its name.
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