Since the release of ‘Doris’, the first single taken from their brand new self-titled album (Nuclear Blast), things have, to say the least, been turbulent in the world of Suicide Silence. Shifting sounds can often ruffle fan’s feathers, whether such a change proves successful or not; take recent Opeth releases as just one example.

But the pure vitriol that Suicide Silence have received in this album’s cycle already, including calls to change their name and even a petition to block the album’s release, proves both an overreaction… and yet almost justified.

Especially considering how monumental a misstep this album proves to be.

For the record, Suicide Silence have always worn their Nineties and Nu-Metal influences on their sleeves and have always had aspects of such in their sound alongside their Extreme Metal and Hardcore traits. Likewise, they have always stated the likes of KoRn and Slipknot as inspirations, so an album that more closely resembles such isn’t too surprising. But this isn’t the band’s strength, and the opening, aforementioned ‘Doris’ sets this precedent immediately. Severely lacking in the fire, relevance and energy such bands had back in their inception, Suicide Silence feels like a backwards step throughout, adding nothing new to a dated style.

Perhaps the biggest talking point is Eddie Hermida’s vocals. While he deserves some plaudits for his experimentation and stepping out of his comfort zone, it sadly just doesn’t pay off. Once a formidable and staggeringly impressive harsh vocalist with All Shall Perish and You Can’t Stop Me (Nuclear Blast); here he tries techniques and ranges which come across as a bad Mike Patton impression. Only when he is growling does he seem remotely convincing.

Bands should always be celebrated when experimenting with their sound, at the very least for their boldness. Unfortunately, though, Suicide Silence is a sad example of such a shift in style falling flat with very little worth or reward. Sounding completely dated, it also gives nothing to match its heroes, and almost entirely misses the point of what made the likes of Slipknot so vibrant and essential in the first place.

Their catalogue proves that they are a band worth not giving up on, but this album has to be seen as a complete disaster.

3.0/10

CHRIS TIPPELL