Sulaco - "The Prize"

Sulaco Keep Their Eyes On "The Prize"

Sulaco - "The Prize"

Some albums feature the recording studio as its own instrument. The Prize pointedly does not. The new album from long running Rochester, NY metal act Sulaco only makes time for one fadeout and one dash of reverb on a vocal line. Otherwise, Sulaco have no interest in shaping their music with the use of effects or production wizardry. To them, the studio is just a place where the mics are on. And why shouldn’t it be? When you’re as technically precise and compelling in your playing as Sulaco are, anything other than a cut and dry production job would be superfluous. The Prize is a no bullshit feat of extreme metal that places Sulaco’s inventing writing and chemistry to the forefront. Stream the album exclusively below

Sulaco make a mockery of subgenre categorization. Their fast paced playing and odd ball sense of melody makes them at home next to death metal acts drawing from the sea-sick dissonances of fellow NY statesmen Immolation, but singer Erik Burke forgoes the theatrics of death growls for a direct and gruff hardcore shout. Sulaco also spend plenty of timing slowing their vicious pace down to a sludgy pummel. The result is an all purpose extremity that recalls the kinds of releases that Relapse records built a name off of in the early 2000s. Trying to determine what box Sulaco slot into is a waste of time when their music offers such a visceral impact.

Each moment of The Prize feels expertly crafted and labored over. The band crank through whip-smart rhythmic changes cleanly and efficiently, leaving no note to chance. This tight control over their playing allows them to sell some transitions that would normally leave a song a pile of riff salad. What Sulaco understand is that salads, even riff salads, can be good for you and a delight to take in, especially if the flavors are well balanced. No dressing necessary.

Here’s what Burke has to say about the album:

We are very stoked for our new sounds to hit the streets. It’s been a bit since our last release so we’re pumped. Also with the release we have 2 extra tracks we recorded that will be available free on our Bandcamp (on release day). Instrumental interpretations of a couple melodies from another band so be sure to grab these along with the record!!

This band is built on riffs. Write a crusher, play it endlessly, figure variations, move it around, play it backwards with some swing, the shit makes me mental sometimes because settling on the right recipe is key. Shit can always be changed but finding the sweet spot is gold. I love it. I try to never write filler riffs. Every one must rule.

We have always had a mix of tempos in our tunes. Nothing different on this one. Sometimes we grind, sometimes we groove sometimes we are slow and grim. But we are always on 10. Never fucked with dynamics much. I’d rather crush.

We are rooted in death/grind but we don’t sound like many grind or death metal bands. Most of my influence is late 80s early 90s death and thrash. N.J. metal. Ripping Corpse and Human Remains. I think we certainly fit in with so many different flavors these days.

The Prize releases on August 17th via Translation Loss. You can follow Sulaco on Facebook.

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