If you were worried about Frank Mullen having to stop his extensive touring with Suffocation due to his full time job, the band has tapped into someone as a fill in for some dates in April that might just blow your mind, or ear drums anyway, John Gallagher from Dying Fetus. Mullen said about his stand in:
"John Gallagher from Dying Fetus will be filling in for a few shows that I can't do and I'm sure he will do an awesome job. So please show your support for him and the band! See you soon."
"I'm stoked to be performing on several shows with longtime friends and my brothers in metal, Suffocation," added Gallagher. "It's going to be a blast and since I'll JUST be singing the vocals, they are going to be super sick and guttural. So make sure to come out and party with us and witness the brutality!"
Now we just need to make sure Gallagher has got that freaky hand things down or it just won't be Effigy for the Forgotten...tour dates on the flier below
No really, I am putting the SXSW list together. Really...I have signed up for the SXSW scheduling tool and getting it all worked out, so be ready for a post first part of next week about the conference and my suggested picks. Still getting an influx of excellent releases, Suffocation, Baptists and more will blow your mind.
ADDs: 2/18/13
Suffocation - Pinnacle of Bedlam (Nuclear Blast)
Mustasch - Sounds Like Hell, Feels Like Heaven (Metalville)
Orange Goblin - "The Filthy and The Few" (Candlelight)
Psychothermia - Fall to the Rising Sun (Self-released)
The Acacia Strain - Money For Nothing EP (Prosthetic)
In a recent interview with Horns Up Rocks, lead singer of Suffocation, Frank Mullen, apparently has decided that touring full time is not going to happen for him again. Unfortunately, it appears to be a combination of several different factors from his quote below:
"I can't really tour full time anymore. So when the album comes out, they'll probably set up about a month-[long] tour, or something like that, in the States. I'll only do about two weeks of it. There'll be a fill-in singer [doing the rest of the shows]. And then I'll probably do maybe a week, or a week and a half, over in Europe, and then any other touring they do for the rest of the year, will probably have somebody else filling in [on vocals]. I mean, I'll do, like, spot shows here and there."
"Unfortunately, as you get older, death metal doesn't make tons of money, and I've got a good job, so… you know, you've gotta work. And that's pretty much what it is. I'm not a kid no more."
"At this point, you've gotta start thinking ahead in your life, you've gotta start thinking long-term goals and stuff And unfortunately, death metal, again, it's not the type of music where you're gonna make millions and where you can make a really good living on it. I mean, you can have fun with it, and some bands could have a steady life on it, but for the most part, you do it more or less for the fact that that's what you love — you love death metal and that's what you play. It's more or less that than trying to make a living."
Just take note all you fancy metal musicians, even though you are one of the best death metal singers, and in one of the legendary bands of your genre, it does not mean you are going to be a star, make enough money to live, or be able to stave off the sands of time. I am glad I have seen Suffocation with Frank so many times, but just a bit sad at the statement this make about metal music in general too...
Has Suffocation parted ways with drummer Mike Smith? At this point nothing has been confirmed by Suffocation, although they did play a couple of recent dates with their old drummer Dave Culross. That of course is not the entire story, in a cryptic message left on Smiths facebook page he wrote:
There are not many things related to the suffocation brand I can honestly say brings me sadness. Except, the lack of pride that exists within those who have the “right” to claim the name as their own.
This battle has been one that to any focused being, should make obvious sense but has evaded some for 2 decades. Within any foundation the weakest link will always cause all structure to crumble.
The one fact that keeps me at peace is the fact that anyone who has ever seen or spoken to me regarding Suffocation and the industry as a whole, has always left with an understanding of the level of focus and pride that I personally hold for myself, the brand that is Suffocation and the genre we influence and helped create.As I´ve always said, if you are willing to put your time and soul towards anything at Be willing to speak truths, fight and bleed for it if need be.
I can't tell what this means, and with no statement from the band or label, we will have to wait and see what comes out the next few days. So far a simple tweet from the bands official twitter that they are not breaking up.
If you were worried about Frank Mullen having to stop his extensive touring with Suffocation due to his full time job, the band has tapped into someone as a fill in for some dates in April that might just blow your mind, or ear drums anyway, John Gallagher from Dying Fetus. Mullen said about his stand in: 
