Review: “The Tony Demo” by Sully

Known for their prior convictions in Sulaco, Brutal Truth, Nuclear Assault and Psyopus to name but a few, a collection of seasoned veterans hailing from Rochester New York have formed a new Grindcore outfit called Sully. Describing themselves as a fun loving, laid back four piece, they’ve called their debut EP “The Tony Demo” and said it’s for those who love smoking cannabis, drinking beer, Human Remains, Pig Destroyer, The Red Chord or anyone who enjoys aggressive music…

SULLY: (verb) damage the purity or integrity of; defile

How much damage can 9 minutes of Grindcore do? It can’t be that bad can it? Well… Just what do you think they forced those incarcerated at Gauntamo Bay into a state of sleep deprivation so they could torture them into confessions? Drummer Alex Perez and bassist Ed Jusko maybe the relative unknowns of this project but they form a tight rhythm section that doesn’t miss a beat during the pulverising opening cut “Blanket“. The surprise of that one is just how warm the main riff is from vocalist and guitarist Eric Burke during before is bursts into flames with his brutal roars in the savage final onslaught. It’s actually surprising refreshing. “Circle The Drain” then rears its ugly head as a tornado of rhythmic battery with hints at Thrash influences courtesy of Burke’s rich past thrown in for good measure. A suicide pact of a lyrical vendetta this one smashes the the clock in fear with lines like “do it until we both die!” roared cathartically as the tale of one person pulling someone else into the void with their selfishness unfurls. These barbed cuts sit around the two and a half minute mark and despite the word “demo” in the title of the record, there is nothing demo about the quality of the output. It’s not rough or raw around the edges but instead simply a lethal dose of American hatred that begs to be heard. Like lightning in a bottle committed to take the energy is ridiculous throughout but on “Tinker’s Dam” it reaches a whole new realm of existence. The sheer power of this one makes it an unstoppable force that it will take some serious rehearsal time to stop from descending into utter madness live. Who says you can’t do Grindcore with atmosphere? “Dredge The Lake” is the cut that proves that you can do exactly that with sinister and menacing undertones and the suggestion that the victim has turned killer prevails. It’s as clever as a plot twist in a gripping thriller and one you’ll keep coming back to… [8/10]

Track Listing:

1. Blanket
2. Circle The Drain
3. Tinker’s Dam
4. Dredge The Lake

The Tony Demo” by Sully is out now via Horror Pain Gore Death Productions and is available over at bandcamp.

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