Pinnacle of Bedlam is the seventh studio album by American death metal band Suffocation. It is the band's first full-length record since Pierced from Within to not feature Mike Smith (although he makes a guest appearance on the final track), instead the album features returning drummer Dave Culross, making this his only full-length record with Suffocation and his first release overall with the band since 1998's Despise the Sun. Track 10, 'Beginning of Sorrow', is a re-recording of the track of the same name from the album Breeding the Spawn. It is also the band's last album with longtime guitarist Guy Marchais.

Pinnacle of Bedlam
Cover art by Raymond Swanland
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 18, 2013 (2013-02-18)
Recorded2012
GenreBrutal death metal, technical death metal
Length38:22
LabelNuclear Blast
ProducerSuffocation, Zeuss, Joe Cincotta
Suffocation chronology
Blood Oath
(2009)
Pinnacle of Bedlam
(2013)
...Of the Dark Light
(2017)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[1]
AllMusic[2]
Decibel8/10[3]
PopMatters8/10[4]

A limited edition release of the CD included a DVD containing the 75-minute documentary The Making of Pinnacle of Bedlam[citation needed].

In its first week, the album sold about 3,200 copies and landed at the 152 position on the Billboard 200[citation needed].

Track listing edit

All lyrics are written by Derek Boyer, except where noted; all music is composed by Terrance Hobbs, except where noted

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Cycles of Suffering"  3:56
2."Purgatorial Punishment" 
  • Guy Marchais
  • Hobbs
2:44
3."Eminent Wrath"  3:40
4."As Grace Descends"  3:04
5."Sullen Days"  4:57
6."Pinnacle of Bedlam"  3:42
7."My Demise" Marchais4:03
8."Inversion"  3:50
9."Rapture of Revocation"Frank Mullen
  • Boyer
  • Marchais
  • Hobbs
3:49
10."Beginning of Sorrow" (re-recorded from Breeding the Spawn)Mike Smith (credited: Suffocation)Doug Cerrito (credited: Suffocation)4:32
Total length:38:17

Personnel edit

Suffocation edit

Guest musicians edit

Production edit

  • Joe Cincotta – engineering, production
  • Chris "Zeuss" Harris – mixing, mastering

References edit

  1. ^ Schalek, Dave. "Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam Review". About.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  2. ^ Heaney, Gregory. "Suffocation - Pinnacle of Bedlam". Allmusic. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  3. ^ Rosenbloom, Etan (March 2013). "Suffocation, Pinnacle of Bedlam". Decibel Magazine (101): 86.
  4. ^ Brown, Dean. "Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam Review". Popmatters. Retrieved February 15, 2014.