With “Vindication” Susperia delivers her second release almost a year after the good but not stunning debut “Predominance”. Their debut, full of progressive melodic death thrash metal with some black influences, was well received by both press and fans and sold over 10.000 copies in the first three months. For “Vindication” Susperia again contacted Peter Tagtgren to record his possible last production. And the result is impressive. Susperia again succeeded in releasing an album that can hold itself standing in this modern age. The combination of melodic death thrash combined with a more progressive and black touch is what makes this band more than average. Most of the songs are based on mid tempo riffs but the bass drums keep on rolling in most of the songs. Tjodalv already proved to be a perfect drummer in his former band Dimmu Borgir and the guitarists Cyrus and Elvorn also know how to play the strings. Vocally Athera has brought more variation in the vocal parts. From a raw but hearable death grunt to more spoken parts and even some heavy metal screams so now and than (“The Bounty Hunter”).

Without keyboards Susperia knows how to keep the attention of the listener for the full release but I can’t keep hiding concentrating problems after a song or 8. Fact is that the typical in Susperia sound, mainly caused by innovative guitar riffs, is hard to be placed. The production really is perfect and they even hired a special vocal producer for the vocal parts. But when you get punched in the face by songs as “Anguished Scream (for Vengeance”, with a great opening riff, or “Cast Life into Fire”, with the progressive touch, you can conclude that it was worth it. I can only tell that fans of bands as Satariel and even Nevermore or Devin Townsend in some way should check out this release. But also Dimmu Borgir fans could even dig this. The only thing I have to add is a question. Is that the cowboy hat of our friend Shagrath that Tjodalv is wearing on the promotional picture?