Review by JD on September 11, 2009.

A EP that has only two songs on it better be damned good right off the bat. There is no wiggle room for any sort of musical blunder when any band puts out a promotional EP that is this short. A bad song could quickly become something akin to career suicide. This is exactly the tightrope that Finnish Death Merchants Survivors Zero are trying to walk... a fine line that is between failure and success.

Using steel wool as toilet paper when you have bleeding hemorrhiods, is the perfect description of Death Metal... and this two track CD is true Death Metal for true Death Metallers. Survivors Zero do deliver the most brutal and sonically vicious melodies I have ever came across in awhile, melodies which pulverizes anything that happens to be in their way... but yet the music is actually catchy as well. It is way to scary to think that this band has both of these traits in their possession.

Sami Jamsen (Normally a Producer) is the one here who stepped out from behind the mixer-board and out to play the music he had been hearing in his mind for a rather long time... he tried a few incarnations of the band, sadly members came and went in the attempt. Settling the line-up to have Shredder extortionary Janni Luttinen (Ex-The Scourer) on guitars, Thunder god Tapio Wilska(Ex-Finntroll) on Bass, Infamous growler Tommi Virranta(Ex-Deathchain) and Skin pounder Reima Kellokoski on Drums (Ex-Impaled Nazarene) he had success. Such a potent line up... talent abounds everywhere. Clearly as the dust settles... Survivors Zero are a force to be reckoned with.

They are said to be releasing a full length album, or perhaps they have already released it at the time I am not sure (Album tentatively called CMXCIX). I really hope that I get it to review. This two tracker EP really has wet my appetite for more from this Death Metal Supergroup ... now I need the main course. Anyone got a metal bib for the up and coming feasting? I am drooling already... bring on the main course.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7.5 (Having only two tracks to offer up really lowers this mark)
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by JD on September 11, 2009.

A EP that has only two songs on it better be damned good right off the bat. There is no wiggle room for any sort of musical blunder when any band puts out a promotional EP that is this short. A bad song could quickly become something akin to career suicide. This is exactly the tightrope that Finnish Death Merchants Survivors Zero are trying to walk... a fine line that is between failure and success.

Using steel wool as toilet paper when you have bleeding hemorrhiods, is the perfect description of Death Metal... and this two track CD is true Death Metal for true Death Metallers. Survivors Zero do deliver the most brutal and sonically vicious melodies I have ever came across in awhile, melodies which pulverizes anything that happens to be in their way... but yet the music is actually catchy as well. It is way to scary to think that this band has both of these traits in their possession.

Sami Jamsen (Normally a Producer) is the one here who stepped out from behind the mixer-board and out to play the music he had been hearing in his mind for a rather long time... he tried a few incarnations of the band, sadly members came and went in the attempt. Settling the line-up to have Shredder extortionary Janni Luttinen (Ex-The Scourer) on guitars, Thunder god Tapio Wilska(Ex-Finntroll) on Bass, Infamous growler Tommi Virranta(Ex-Deathchain) and Skin pounder Reima Kellokoski on Drums (Ex-Impaled Nazarene) he had success. Such a potent line up... talent abounds everywhere. Clearly as the dust settles... Survivors Zero are a force to be reckoned with.

They are said to be releasing a full length album, or perhaps they have already released it at the time I am not sure (Album tentatively called CMXCIX). I really hope that I get it to review. This two tracker EP really has wet my appetite for more from this Death Metal Supergroup ... now I need the main course. Anyone got a metal bib for the up and coming feasting? I am drooling already... bring on the main course.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 7.5 (Having only two tracks to offer up really lowers this mark)
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Jack on July 21, 2004.

It’s taken ‘em 2 records, but finally album number 3 sees Susperia decisively stamp their own name on the metal world. Let’s face it, both Predominance and Vindication were good records, but were ultimately met with mixed reactions from fans and media alike. Why? Susperia were yet to come into their own. Predominance was comprised of some good songwriting, yet never quite hit the blend of thrash with the ‘black’ metal influences. Vindication, on the other hand, was certainly more of a full thrash record, but was marred because it was largely forgettable once you got to the middle of the album.

Unlimited is 2004’s follow up to Vindication, and obliterates both preceding records in every facet. Black metal is so far gone from the Susperia sound it’s not even funny anymore. And thank all hell for this, as Susperia might finally be able to move out of the shadow created by drummer Tjodalv’s former band in Dimmu Borgir. No more black metal equals no more weak comparison.

Where I see the biggest improvements of Susperia circa Unlimited compared to Susperia circa Vindication is definitely in vocalist Athera. His voice has not undergone a transformation as such, but more of a refinement, which has successfully forged him into a complete vocalist that is more suited to handle different types of pitch, range etc, etc. Of course, this is not to say the rest of the band hasn’t improved, because this could not be further from the truth. The drumming from Tjodalv is just as varied and explosive as ever, while the rest of the lads provide a fresh assault in thick guitar work.

Second to Athera’s vocal consolidation, is the huge leap that has been taken in the production aspect of Unlimited. The sound that Susperia have got now is spot on. The guitars, for example, are meaty and provide a relentless attack through each of the ten tracks. However, what really sticks out for me is that the production is not completely crystal clear, but has a slightly dirty feel to it, making for a ‘rougher’ album than the last two. Fortunately this pays off as Susperia have really nailed their sound down for Unlimited.

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t holding out high hopes for Unlimited. I was impressed by Predominance - the hybrid mix was cool, but it was an album that was a little blurry. Vindication was a disappointment for me; two or three cool tracks, but it didn’t have the staying power of other records around. So coming into Unlimited I was expecting just another record… but I’m more than happy to be blown out of the water.

2004 looks like a very solid year for the revival of thrash, we’ve already seen Death Angel and Exodus make some welcome returns to the big time, and now Susperia have arrived with Unlimited to inject some European flavor into the mix. This is the album fans have been waiting for. This is the record that Susperia have hinted at creating in the last two releases… we’ve only seen glimpses up until now, but finally we get the real deal with Unlimited.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 7
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.4 of 10

Review by Jack on July 21, 2004.

It’s taken ‘em 2 records, but finally album number 3 sees Susperia decisively stamp their own name on the metal world. Let’s face it, both Predominance and Vindication were good records, but were ultimately met with mixed reactions from fans and media alike. Why? Susperia were yet to come into their own. Predominance was comprised of some good songwriting, yet never quite hit the blend of thrash with the ‘black’ metal influences. Vindication, on the other hand, was certainly more of a full thrash record, but was marred because it was largely forgettable once you got to the middle of the album.

Unlimited is 2004’s follow up to Vindication, and obliterates both preceding records in every facet. Black metal is so far gone from the Susperia sound it’s not even funny anymore. And thank all hell for this, as Susperia might finally be able to move out of the shadow created by drummer Tjodalv’s former band in Dimmu Borgir. No more black metal equals no more weak comparison.

Where I see the biggest improvements of Susperia circa Unlimited compared to Susperia circa Vindication is definitely in vocalist Athera. His voice has not undergone a transformation as such, but more of a refinement, which has successfully forged him into a complete vocalist that is more suited to handle different types of pitch, range etc, etc. Of course, this is not to say the rest of the band hasn’t improved, because this could not be further from the truth. The drumming from Tjodalv is just as varied and explosive as ever, while the rest of the lads provide a fresh assault in thick guitar work.

Second to Athera’s vocal consolidation, is the huge leap that has been taken in the production aspect of Unlimited. The sound that Susperia have got now is spot on. The guitars, for example, are meaty and provide a relentless attack through each of the ten tracks. However, what really sticks out for me is that the production is not completely crystal clear, but has a slightly dirty feel to it, making for a ‘rougher’ album than the last two. Fortunately this pays off as Susperia have really nailed their sound down for Unlimited.

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t holding out high hopes for Unlimited. I was impressed by Predominance - the hybrid mix was cool, but it was an album that was a little blurry. Vindication was a disappointment for me; two or three cool tracks, but it didn’t have the staying power of other records around. So coming into Unlimited I was expecting just another record… but I’m more than happy to be blown out of the water.

2004 looks like a very solid year for the revival of thrash, we’ve already seen Death Angel and Exodus make some welcome returns to the big time, and now Susperia have arrived with Unlimited to inject some European flavor into the mix. This is the album fans have been waiting for. This is the record that Susperia have hinted at creating in the last two releases… we’ve only seen glimpses up until now, but finally we get the real deal with Unlimited.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 7
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.4 of 10

Review by Jack on July 21, 2004.

It’s taken ‘em 2 records, but finally album number 3 sees Susperia decisively stamp their own name on the metal world. Let’s face it, both Predominance and Vindication were good records, but were ultimately met with mixed reactions from fans and media alike. Why? Susperia were yet to come into their own. Predominance was comprised of some good songwriting, yet never quite hit the blend of thrash with the ‘black’ metal influences. Vindication, on the other hand, was certainly more of a full thrash record, but was marred because it was largely forgettable once you got to the middle of the album.

Unlimited is 2004’s follow up to Vindication, and obliterates both preceding records in every facet. Black metal is so far gone from the Susperia sound it’s not even funny anymore. And thank all hell for this, as Susperia might finally be able to move out of the shadow created by drummer Tjodalv’s former band in Dimmu Borgir. No more black metal equals no more weak comparison.

Where I see the biggest improvements of Susperia circa Unlimited compared to Susperia circa Vindication is definitely in vocalist Athera. His voice has not undergone a transformation as such, but more of a refinement, which has successfully forged him into a complete vocalist that is more suited to handle different types of pitch, range etc, etc. Of course, this is not to say the rest of the band hasn’t improved, because this could not be further from the truth. The drumming from Tjodalv is just as varied and explosive as ever, while the rest of the lads provide a fresh assault in thick guitar work.

Second to Athera’s vocal consolidation, is the huge leap that has been taken in the production aspect of Unlimited. The sound that Susperia have got now is spot on. The guitars, for example, are meaty and provide a relentless attack through each of the ten tracks. However, what really sticks out for me is that the production is not completely crystal clear, but has a slightly dirty feel to it, making for a ‘rougher’ album than the last two. Fortunately this pays off as Susperia have really nailed their sound down for Unlimited.

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t holding out high hopes for Unlimited. I was impressed by Predominance - the hybrid mix was cool, but it was an album that was a little blurry. Vindication was a disappointment for me; two or three cool tracks, but it didn’t have the staying power of other records around. So coming into Unlimited I was expecting just another record… but I’m more than happy to be blown out of the water.

2004 looks like a very solid year for the revival of thrash, we’ve already seen Death Angel and Exodus make some welcome returns to the big time, and now Susperia have arrived with Unlimited to inject some European flavor into the mix. This is the album fans have been waiting for. This is the record that Susperia have hinted at creating in the last two releases… we’ve only seen glimpses up until now, but finally we get the real deal with Unlimited.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 7
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.4 of 10