Pinnacle of Bedlam

Pinnacle of Bedlam is the seventh studio album by American death metal band Suffocation. It is the band's first full-length record since Pierced from Within to not feature Mike Smith (although he makes a guest appearance on the final track), instead the album features returning drummer Dave Culross, making this his only full-length record with Suffocation and his first release overall with the band since 1998's Despise the Sun. Track 10, 'Beginning of Sorrow', is a re-recording of the track of the same name from the album Breeding the Spawn. It is also the band's last album with longtime guitarist Guy Marchais.

Pinnacle of Bedlam
Cover art by Raymond Swanland
Studio album by Suffocation
Released	February 15, 2013
Recorded	2012
Genre	Technical death metal
Length	38:22
Label	Nuclear Blast
Producer	Suffocation, Zeuss, Joe Cincotta
Suffocation chronology
Blood Oath (2009) Pinnacle of Bedlam (2013) ...Of the Dark Light (2017)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[1]
AllMusic	[2]
Decibel	[3]
PopMatters	8/10[4]

A limited edition release of the CD included a DVD containing the 75-minute documentary The Making of Pinnacle of Bedlam.

In its first week, the album sold about 3,200 copies and landed at the 152 position on the Billboard 200.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Cycles of Suffering"	Derek Boyer	Terrance Hobbs	3:56
2.	"Purgatorial Punishment"	Boyer	Guy Marchais Hobbs	2:44
3.	"Eminent Wrath"	Boyer	Hobbs	3:40
4.	"As Grace Descends"	Boyer	Hobbs	3:04
5.	"Sullen Days"	Boyer	Hobbs	4:57
6.	"Pinnacle of Bedlam"	Boyer	Hobbs	3:42
7.	"My Demise"	Boyer	Marchais	4:03
8.	"Inversion"	Boyer	Hobbs	3:50
9.	"Rapture of Revocation"	Frank Mullen	Boyer Marchais Hobbs	3:49
10.	"Beginning of Sorrow" (re-recorded from Breeding the Spawn)	Mike Smith (credited: Suffocation)	Doug Cerrito (credited: Suffocation)	4:32
Total length:				38:17

Personnel

Suffocation

• Frank Mullen – vocals
• Terrance Hobbs – lead guitar
• Guy Marchais – rhythm guitar
• Derek Boyer – bass
• Dave Culross – drums

Guest musicians

• Mike Smith - drums on track 10

Production

• Joe Cincotta – engineering, production
• Chris "Zeuss" Harris – mixing, mastering

References

1. Schalek, Dave. "Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam Review". About.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
2. Heaney, Gregory. "Suffocation - Pinnacle of Bedlam". Allmusic. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
3. Rosenbloom, Etan (March 2013). "Suffocation, Pinnacle of Bedlam". Decibel Magazine (101): 86.
4. Brown, Dean. "Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam Review". Popmatters. Retrieved February 15, 2014.