Rating: 8.3

Country: Colombia/USA

Release Date: 2006

Track list:
1. Intro: Thelemite Forces Attack
2. Awakening of the Rebel
3. Magnificent Uranus Power
4. Transfiguration of the Devotee
5. Arrival of a New Aeon
6. Evocation of the Secret Gate
7. Masters of Sorcery
8. Ascension to Immortality
9. Highest Key of the Illumination
10. Thelemic Conqueror

Band Website: Internal Suffering

Internal Suffering - Awakening of the Rebel

Fabio Marin - Vocals
Andrés Garcia - Bass
Fabio “Dr. Grinder” Ramirez - Drums
Makoto Mizoguchi - Guitar

Internal Suffering has been a band constantly rising from the gruesome opiates of both my Metal collection and the underground. They have risen from the supersonic-blasting Kataklysm inspired surfing speed reverb of their early work on albums such as ‘Supreme Knowledge Domain', an EP interlude with ‘Unmercyful Extermination', and ‘Chaotic Matrix' and morphed into a crafty catchy tech riff beast of epic brutal magnitude. They highlighted this style on ‘Choronzonic Force Domination' in near brilliance. Sure they still retain elements of Kataklysm that have been molded into an Erik Rutan/Hate Eternal/Morbid Angel personification, but they encompass all of that resonance in an approach that is genuinely distinctive to the point that a listener is going to cast aside similarities.

Despite my massive boner for their new album ‘Awakening of the Rebel', a keen worry sent Antarctic chills down the shaft of my rod, for Leandro Quiza the band guitarist had been booted out due to musical differences. In near panic, questions racked my caveman brain with migraines. Would Internal Suffering still be Broootal? Would they still be technical? Would they turn into some type of pussy Melodic Death Metal outfit? Would Erik Rutans' production turn them into a one dimensional metalcore outfit like Cannibal CORE-pse? Had the time come to shovel them into a pit alongside other mediocre Unique Leader bands like Vile and Disavowed whose questionable reputation and label propaganda far exceeds their talent? Had my penchant for loving Colombian bands finally run its course? Making matters worse, I read on the band web page that a Japanese guy named Makoto Mizoguchi had replaced Leandro… Makoto Mizoguchi, WHO THE FUCK IS THIS GUY? Still, knowing the guitarist was from Japan kinda made me feel better than if he had been from Sweden and a part of the whole Gothenburg sound that originated in Florida. In that regard I was mildly happy in that Japan has some of the sickest bands and musicians be it Defiled, Zombie Ritual, Butcher ABC, or Dave Suzuki, but I felt afflicted profoundly by consternation.

Then about 2 weeks ago I got Internal Suffering' ‘Awakening of the Rebel' in the mail along with a bunch of other shit is a fabulous haul. After gently putting the disc in the player, I heard a brief intro before musical impalement on the horns of the biggest ugliest creature a mushroom tripping prophet could concoct for a biblical story ensued. All I can tell you fans is that ‘Awakening of the Rebel' is a nasty rabies afflicted drooling mastiff of an album. If these guys were a marathon runner they would be in a full speed run for the duration of the journey that would leave the competition choking in the gritty asphalt of their indolent pace. This album has what is referred to in this cliché-infested world as “having balls.” Yet, the primary difference between Internal Suffering' nut sack and some other bands considered heavy or brutal is the sheer size of them balls. Were Internal Suffering a pair of balls they would be very massive, kinky black hair covered, vein racked, sweaty smelling, elephant sized BALLS, placed squarely on the fucking bridge of your nose so that each nut rested on yer sanctimonious left and right flared nostrils.

Musically the first thing that stands out about ‘Awakening of the Rebel' is the drumming. Looking at the calm booklet picture of Fabio “Dr. Grinder” Ramirez is like viewing a gigantic ocean swell before it turns into a humongous crushing white capped wave. Ramirez employs a drum sound that is similar to what Derek Roddy has done with Hate Eternal. The notable difference is that everything is more precise, faster, passionate, crazy, layered, unrelenting, and downright amazing. Unreal impressive is the blazing gravity blasting on this album. Fuck, Hellhammer, and Flo Mounier cause Ramirez is almost inhuman in every dimension discernable to the human ears for what a drummer can do sitting behind a kit. Goddamn, I am surprised he doesn't clamp a stick between his ass cheeks and slap another snare. Drumming aside, the guitar riffing of Makoto Mizoguchi on this album is unique. Melodies cascade, brief licks rip, and harmonies collide in a splendid cacophony backed by accuracy and sheer homicidal anger. Andres Garcia on bass provides an ogre of rhythmic background that only a professional could muster to keep up with Internal Suffering' rapid tempo changes, and chaotic complexity. Vocally Fabio Marin spews fabulous blasphemy in gruesome pulsations of deeply spiteful exuberance. When slammed together into a band called Internal Suffering, listeners are going to get an unrepentant barrage of technical mortars blowing asunder every centimeter of their foxholes.

As written above there are some obvious contrasts to the Internal Suffering sound. Most notable is the early Kataklysm era lyric structure and musical speed shuffled into a deck of cards whose faces are Centurian, Morbid Angel, Krisiun, and Hate Eternal. Yet, almost none of that matters, for Internal Suffering encompass a sound that is uniquely their own. They do this with rapid riffs that will change 3 times in 5 seconds, dive-bomber harmonies, and sphincter gapping double kick, ball crushing gravity blasts, bulls intestine thick bass rhythms, and a vocalist who absolutely hates every one of us. Hell, even when they do slow things down a tad there is no respite, for the riffs are monumental and pulverizing in a way that makes me think of how insane it must have felt to be within close proximity to the World Trade Towers as they fell. Therefore, even if Internal Suffering sounded a bit like the fucking Beatles they would still be a unique black cavity rotting yer deeply crooked wisdom tooth. The production is beautifully balanced bring out all the talents of the musicians evenly, which adds to the powerful sound of ‘Awakening of the Rebel'. Overall Internal Suffering have succeeded profoundly in creating an album of tightly woven lunacy with enough elements be it technicality, broootality, or melody to appease virtually any Metal fan. Gratifying too is that Internal Suffering are a wonderful respite from some of the slamming Death Metal that has become popular. It is worth mentioning that Andres Usma formerly of Pustulated is now a full time member. This means that the band can only get better. So fond reader stop wasting time, get into the fight and score ‘Awakening of the Rebel' otherwise you are sure to get a not too happy visit from the vein laden ball sack known as Internal Suffering.

September 7th, 2006