Suture Self - Evolve

The bands first full-length album, entitled 'Evolve', released in October of 2011, containing 10 tracks, including re-works of songs that were originally featured on the 'New Skin' EP and a cover of the Assemblage 23 song "Damaged".

We start with "Full Circle", an instrumental track with some very fitting male samples. Most noticeable is the great piano use. This is good soundtrack material, which the band are known for.

Then we immediately step up into "Left Out", this is Hard Rock, to use a term loosely. Ronay's vocals on this one remind me of the better female vocalists of the punk era. This time we are treated to some great guitar and riffs.

"Fifteen Years" begins with a very heavy metal sound and much more drums. Ronay's vocals are then brought in, this time in a much more melodic fashion. With "Lust" we return to soundtrack music but this time a more much dramatic track than the first "Full Circle", again well completed by the vocals.

The title track "Evolve", is very much again soundtrack material, proved by the bands submission for this track on YouTube. The footage used in the video is from the documentaries Restrepo and The Tillman Story. The vocals are well off key but I wouldn't want them any other way. Sound clips are also included during the song. I will say now the tracks on this album are just so strong.

"Siren's Lamentation", has more Gothic Rock elements than previous, but I find the track somewhat muddled and the vocals are less clear than before. I just struggle with this track. "Less Than Zero" is the bands tribute to Peter Steele, in a great Gothic Metal fashion.

Next we have the Suture Self version of "Damaged" by Assemblage 23. I am getting the Gothic Rock feeling much more from the music now. This is a good and different version of a great track, Ronay's vocals again work so well.

The penultimate track "New Skin" is a rework from the demo EP of the same name, as is "Siren's Lamentation". In places the guitars make this sound like classic Gothic rock. The last "With Hope" starts with a sample, turning into another more hard rock track, again using that term very loosely. As ever a strong track musically.

Conclusion:
A strong and well produced album, very hard to pin down in terms of genre. The bands classifies themselves as a blend of Industrial, Metal, Electronica, and EBM. I can see some of this but I would also mention gothic and hard rock to the fore. But genre labels aside its good electronic music, with great guitar solos and some good female vocals. Give the vocals a second chance if you need too, for example I needed too on "With Hope", which then turned into my favorite track of the album. I think some people might find the vocals a bit hit and miss in places, but in general if you like this kind of music I don't think you will have a problem. The more Gothic Rock sounds of the final tracks really bring this to life for me, an enjoyable experience made by some great musicians. Apr 29 2012