North Carolina’s Suppressive Fire made their full-length debut four years ago with Bedlam, an album that loosely explored the terrible nature of World War I. Wasting no time, they followed that with a second full-length the next year entitled Nature of War, which again organized the band’s hell-raising brand of black thrash around the subject of warfare, culminating in the closing track “Nuclear Dismemberment”.
Now Suppressive Fire are returning to the field of battle with a new EP entitled Invasion that’s set for release on the Ides of March. The band’s line-up has undergone significant changes, with guitarist Joseph Bursey as the only remaining original member, now joined by vocalist Devin Kelley (also of Cemetery Filth and Dire Hatred), drummer Scott Schopler (owner of Blasphemous Mockery Productions), bassist Andrew Nye (also from Leachate and Eyn), and second guitarist Nate Stokes (also of Witchtit and Noctomb). But the band’s thematic focus has remained consistent, with this new EP heavily focused on the events of World War II, and as you’re about to discover through our premiere of a track named “Siege“, their music is even more explosive.
Lyrically, “Siege” is about the Siege of Bastogne, and the words vividly cover the horrific ordeals of that battle, written from the Allies’ perspective. The video through which we present the song intertwines archival video footage of the actual battle with film of the band performing from a live stage (ah, the good ol’ days).
Musically, the band discharge a variety of riffs and rhythms that together create a hard-charging, adrenaline-fueled storm of sound. But the song doesn’t begin with all pistons firing and all guns blazing. Instead, the band set the stage with a combination of pulsating and shimmering guitar tones and a heart-beat drum pattern, culminating in a mournful melody. Having done that, the band carry the melody forward in a sudden fury.
Things stay in the fast lane from there on, but the song is a dynamic one that includes the blackened aggression of blasting drums and boiling tremolo’d chords, pulse-pumping thrash riffs and galloping drums, brazen melody and punk beats, and a screaming guitar solo. Throughout, vocalist Devin Kelley discharges a torrent of scorching vocal ferocity. And for such a racing and riotous song, it’s also a catchy beast. It’s an intense thriller, and it also sticks in the head.
Suppressive Fire recorded Invasion on their own at the Cabin of Eternal Despair in Chapel Hill, NC, and they dedicate it to their long-time former engineer Greg Klaiber, who passed away from lung cancer. The record was mixed and mastered by Joel Grind, and credit for the cover art goes to Agus Wibowo.
Invasion will be available on CD, Cassette, and Digital, and pre-orders can be made at Bandcamp. For the Cassette release the band have partnered with Blasphemous Mockery Productions.
And finally, we’re happy to report that Suppressive Fire are writing for their third album and hopefully will be recording it late this year, pandemic permitting.
PRE-ORDER:
https://suppressivefire.bandcamp.com/
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/suppressivefire