Review by Arek on May 12, 2016.

Twenty-three years of creative activity requires something extra out of you, therefore, the Finns knew perfectly well that they cannot mess this one up. Did they pull it off - I will explain in a moment. We had to wait five whole years for the successor of Cursed. Rotten Sound, just like the most of the stubborn grind-folk, firmly stick to their likings. Novelties, trends and fashion do not exist in their musical minds. Anyone familiar with earlier releases of Rotten Sound already knows - and all inexperienced ones I like to enlighten - Abuse To Suffer is a mix of the old Swedish death metal (Nihilist) with an old English grind (Napalm Death). Musically they’re closest to General Surgery, lyrically/ideologically to Nasum and early Napalm Death.

The seventh album of Finland quartet brings 16 tracks lasting a little over 28 minutes. Is it too little, or a lot you’ll have to answer yourselves, as for me, this is an ideal length for a grind madness. Although those guys tune their guitars way low, the album was carried out relatively clear and transparent and even though the old-Swedish bands have been popping up like mushrooms after the rain lately, it is precisely such genuine ones that deserve all the attention. Abuse To Suffer is certainly not a copy of the Left Hand Path even though it sounds very similar. However, Entombed is a death metal band, and Rotten Sound is full bloodied grinder bunch although adorned with some death metal influences. Such nice ass kicking it makes me shiver. This long awaited album doesn’t bring anything new to the fold basically. Originality is also not in the abundance, but as for energy and heart - those four Finns are well worthy of having their footsteps followed (but not plagiarized!). This is a worthy successor to all previous accomplishments and it’s flogging our ears with D-bit guitars and raspy screams of G-Keijo Niinimaa. Abuse To Suffer is both a mad clatter, like in the ‘Lazy Asses’, ‘Slave To The Rats’, ‘The Clerk’, or ‘Retaliation’, but also more tasteful like in ‘Time For The Fix’ or ‘Inhumane Treatment’. There is also - like taken from the manuscripts of the Nihilist/Entombed – ‘Fear Of Shadows’ or the slowest on disc ‘Yellow Pain’. It is a varied album - and thanks to that - the effect of any boredom should not occur. I do not know whether this was a longing for a decent ear thumping or maybe something else but this album really appeals to me.

Not so long ago I was taking pleasure in listening to the sounds of October Tide, and suddenly comes such a swift kick in the face. What links these two radically different bands you ask? To me is the sincerity and simplicity of expression. Music that’s alive, spelled with the big "M" and without technical frills. All of you waiting for another act of General Surgery and those who indulge in creativity ranging from Incarnated to Nasum I’d like to welcome to the new mandatory listen courtesy of Rotten Sound. For statistical purposes, I'll add only that digipak version was enlarged by two bonus tracks ('Equal Rights' and 'Someone Weak') and Season Of Mist posted 16 song stream via YouTube.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Tobias on April 11, 2002.

Known to some as Sunn 666 and to others as Sunn 0))) , the sound of this album is as enigmatic as the true identity of the band name. Instrumental doom without drums, “Flight of the Behemoth” is best likened to Fripp and Eno’s “No Pussyfooting” gone metal.

Like a metal meditation album, the space dirges seek to induce hallucinations in the listener. I’m not kidding. This is a fascinatingly warm ambient album that envelops you but it has a dark tone that is done very artistically. There is power here to change your mood and reduce your heart rate after a mere 30 seconds of play.

The long notes of the guitars bleed slowly, continually coating the walls of the listening space with hypnotic resonance. After only a few listens it is still very difficult to tell the tracks apart, but this is not an album where the creation of distinct tracks was the goal, it is far more along the lines of a single track divided into movements.

Obviously this is not an album for the impatient, some may find it a great album to send the listener into a deep soundscape sleep. Regardless of how it works for you, ‘Flight...’ is without doubt a very good piece of metal art.

Despite my fascination and respect for this album, I find that there are times when a little more needs to be added to the music without detracting from its droning hypnotic power. They do a little more of this on the track ‘FWTBT’ with softened gongs and something that sounded like a wordless growl in the background. If they had expanded just a little more in this area, I think this could be the finest album of its type.

Bottom Line: A fine work of dark ambient art, could use a little more variance. Sit back, relax and space out.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 10
Originality: 9
Production: 7
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.2 of 10