Review Summary: Excellence overlooked by poor production.
1993 is a dark year in the Death Metal scene. Many popular bands are signed to Roadrunner Records that is infamous for sabotaging many of their merchandise. Suffocation unfortunately is no exception and was denied the mastering of Scott Burns. The result was a poorly recorded and distributed album that ended in backlash and rarity.
As mentioned, Breeding the Spawn is one of the less memorable albums among fans. Many complaints directed to the production have been due to difficulty distinguishing riffs, solo notes, double bass, and random changes in volume. There are also segments that sound no more than static buzzing that are undecipherable. Several tracks [Breeding the Spawn, Marital Decimation, Prelude to Repulsion, and Anomalistic Offerings] would be rerecorded on future releases.
Despite the production, Breeding the Spawn contains the band’s best songwriting. Every track is structured differently and have own characteristics. They also manage to keep the listener entertained and unexpected. It is the experimental nature that makes this album great and truly underappreciated.
It’s a shame this album didn’t have the production quality at the time. However, it grants it that vintage feel that few albums in the subgenre possess, making it special in the band’s discography. If one can bypass the poor production they may find a lot to enjoy.
