Issued in a 4-panel Digipak, with 16-page booklet. English lyrics translated into 6 other languages on booklet.
SUP / S.U.P. and Supuration are two distinct bands sharing the same musicians, which has lead to some confusion. Both projects have different concepts and musical styles: SUP / S.U.P. plays avant-garde / gothic metal when Supuration plays a complex and progressive brand of death metal. Supuration took a break between 1997 and 2003 while they focused on SUP; since …
Okay, SUP, I won't hide it, I'm a fan. So I'll have to make a real effort with comparisons to avoid giving every album 5/5. I'd love to, but it wouldn't be constructive at all. We now have "Room Seven," which is the completely illogical sequel to "Anomaly," itself an illogical sequel to "Cube." A new direction that's sure to surprise everyone... Beautiful digipak. Some people don't care, but I'm not one of them. With SUP, the physical object is an integral part of the work, given how meticulously crafted it always is. Four panels arranged in a cross, a psychedelic-geometric, almost asylum-like design—intriguing. And in the booklet, go ahead and throw in your story, translated into seven languages. The story is much more down-to-earth than usual, almost rational, following the ramblings of a psychiatrist about his patient, Anthéa. Or maybe not. So, we're dealing with something concrete here; gone are the robots carrying out mass eradication. You can feel it in the music. I tend to loudly proclaim that SUP isn't Cold Metal, and this album is the perfect example. Warm and organic production, a comfortable atmosphere. Clean vocals completely overpower the death growls, which are barely more prominent than in "Anomaly." However, there's a major mixing problem that relegates the guitars to the back of a closet on the third floor. But you get used to it eventually... Well, almost. Let's just say that this strange mix weighs down the most aggressive/catchy tracks, especially the very first one, which I have a huge mental block about. Yet, it's honestly not bad. No, there's something that doesn't quite work for me, "Deliverance" just isn't for me...
But, once you get past that initial hurdle, it's one punch after another, a real gut punch.
Okay, "Room Seven" is rather uneven. But when it's good, it's really good!
So much so that the sequence of tracks 2 through 7 is mind-blowing.
"Bangs In My Head" and "World Of Cushions" are particularly captivating, with a truly transcendent power so comfortable that you fall asleep sprawled out in the middle of the notes...
"Real Nature" is, for me, the absolute killer track of the album, perfectly contrasted, with exhilarating drum patterns that constantly evolve and, above all, a death metal vocal chorus so beautiful it'll make you cry. Yes, you read that right. And there's more. The title track throws around "other" influences with a main riff that sounds like it's been heard before. And let's not forget "Snake Eyes," which could easily be played on RTL2... That's all well and good, but it's missing some points. Where did they go?
Well, I already said it was uneven. Damn, "The Calling" and the last three tracks, sorry, but they just don't work. Repetitive and absolutely uninteresting. And also, it's a simple thing, but "Chronophobia," "Angelus," "Imago," "The Cube," and "Anomaly" are better. So we have to make a choice. "Room Seven" gets the nod because it's not as consistent as some of its siblings. All the while knowing, of course, that it's a solid, pumped-up, steroid-fueled number 3. In short, a really great album, a true UFO, like absolutely everything else in the Ch'tis' discography. But not the best, so you inevitably have to cut it out at some point. A very good first introduction to the band, essential for fans, interesting for newcomers.
Sample:
youtube.com/watch?v=v_PWmvB5F9g&list=RDv_PWmvB5F9g&start_radio=1&t=617s
