Suffering Quota (Netherlands) - Collide (2023)

 

Some bands shift their sound drastically once or more over their lifespan, while others hone what's present on their earliest material, adding influences as they age. Suffering Quota has been around for nearly 15 years, and in that span of time they've refined their sound into a unique brand of crushing grindcore that pulls from a number of stylistic areas. Collide is composed of shards of pummeling death metal, blasting grindcore that balances between technicality and emotional resonance in a manner not unlike Discordance Axis and crusty hardcore intensity as the glue that holds it all together.

Opener "Out" (watch the video for the song by Jordi van Putten here) begins with a cacophany of orchestral string instruments and other sounds, punctuated by a dialogue sample that leads into a loping, circular riff and explodes into speedy blasting and seasick rhythms. "Drown" is another standout grinder that shifts into a powerful, moshpit-inducing churn halfway through. Midtempo thrasher "Pig" rides a Slayer-esque pummel through half of its 1:56 runtime, before smashing full-speed through a wall for its last 40 seconds. Closer "Scorn" is the longest song on the record at 4:16, but rather than suffer the tedious fate of most long closing tracks on grindcore records, it's a dramatic, physical song that draws on their hardcore and crust punk influences.

Musical cohesion is also accompanied by aesthetic cohesion thanks to excellent design work. The striking cover artwork was painted by Netherlands-based artist Wokkel, a friend and frequent artistic collaborator of the band. Its use of color and figurative style, as well the fact that it's a painted piece, makes this cover easily stand out in the sea of grim monochrome sketches and photographs that adorn most grindcore records.

Collide is a tight, well-realized record with a strong sense of self within its chosen genre. It is meant as a companion to 2018's Life in Disgust. Easily surpassing that record, this collection stands out on its own merits and presents a tantalizing snapshot of the band's current sound.

Collide can be purchased in digital or a number of physical editions in a co-production between several labels on the band's Bandcamp page: Orange Sunburst vinyl via the band, Silver vinyl via 7Degrees Records, Gold vinyl via Tartarus Records, blue/white/metallic red cassette from Lower Class Kids records, metallic yellow/green/purple cassette from Tartarus Records or black cassette via the band.