Suffocation

In a day filled with doom and gloom, New York's Suffocation brought the "death" back to Maryland Deathfest. The brutal, technical death metal band got right to the point, starting their set with the guitar groove-laden "Cataclysmic Purification" from their latest album, Blood Oath, before heading back to the beginning with the title track from 1991's Effigy of the Forgotten. Vocalist Frank Mullen -- the epitome of brutal guttural growls -- was engaging throughout Suffocation's performance. When not commanding the crowd into chaotic circle pits during songs, he bantered about his support for the military and his anti-religious sentiments. "Liege of Inveracity" and "Despise the Sun" were excellently executed, as Suffocation performed a variety of tracks from their catalogue. The band delved into their 2006 self-titled record with a decimating rendition of "Abomination Reborn" before heading back to Effigy for the classically vicious "Mass Obliteration."