VITRIOL – Suffer & Become

The return of Vitriol was one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent memory. Their debut, To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice, made a massive impact on critics and listeners. A follow-up was inevitable. Now, five years later, it has arrived—punctual and relentless.

Relentless is truly the word that best describes them across the board, especially in their furious, uncompromising sound. Classic influences are audible—Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, Deicide—but they are pushed to the extreme with overflowing violence and technical feats bordering on the incomprehensible. Vitriol has always loved to overdeliver, but with Suffer & Become, something seems to have shifted.

Chaos still reigns supreme. Compared to their debut, the album flows more smoothly and showcases a wider range of stylistic touches. Each track offers different shades that break up the constant wall of sound. Consider the intro of Nursing from the Mother Wound, marked by sharp notes. The Isolating Lie of Learning Another features an intense, emotional solo. The instrumental Survival’s Careening Inertia brings unexpectedly melodic threads. All these elements, swirling in a vortex of aggression, are easily perceptible. Groovier riffs add an alternative touch to the bombardment, especially in I Am Every Enemy, The Flowers of Sadism, and the closer He Will Fight Savagely, evoking new sensations.

Suffer & Become works as a chaotic whole and in its details. Heavy distortion, shifting tempos, and oppressive passages hit hard throughout. Exploring each track reveals constant surprises, showing the band’s openness to evolution. Co-vocalists Kyle Rasmussen and Adam Roethlisberger (also stellar on bass) leave their mark, joined by new drummer Matt Kilner, who fits seamlessly into the lineup. Now, we just wait for the next chapter.