The Deal (album)

The Deal is the debut album by American post-metal band Sumac. It was released on digital and CD formats through Profound Lore Records and on vinyl LP via SIGE Records on February 17, 2015. The album was recorded at Aleph and Litho studios in Seattle, Washington between July and August 2014. The album was mixed at GodCity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts by Kurt Ballou. The artwork was a collaborative effort between Aaron Turner and Faith Coloccia.

The Deal
Studio album by Sumac
Released	February 17, 2015
Recorded	July–August 2014[1]
Studio	Studio Litho, Studio Soli[1]
Genre	Post-metal, sludge metal
Length	53:45
Label	Profound Lore, SIGE
Producer	Mell Dettmer
Sumac chronology
The Deal (2015) What One Becomes (2016)

Background

In September 2014, shortly after the formation of the band, Sumac announced the track listing and expected February release of their debut album, through Profound Lore Records and SIGE Records, tentatively titled The Deal.[2] The report was made based on an entry in Aaron Turner's official blog, which included the announcement and photos of the band recording.[3] It was also reported that Mell Dettmer and Kurt Ballou recorded and mixed the album at Aleph and Litho studios in Seattle, Washington and GodCity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts, respectively, during July and August earlier that year.[2] On November 21, 2014 the release date for the upcoming album was announced as February 3, 2015. Additionally, the album artwork was revealed crediting cover design to Aaron Turner and art credit to his wife, Faith Coloccia.[4] In December 2014, Profound Lore announced the completion of the album along with an album teaser, confirming the track listing and release date.[5] On December 18, 2014, Sumac debuted the track "Thorn in the Lion's Paw" via online streaming.[6] The second track "Blight's End Angel" was released for online streaming the following month on January 26, 2015. Within the press release included the updated release date of February 17, 2015.[7] In February 2015, six days before the album release, the full album was made available for online streaming.[8]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
MetalSucks	3.5/5[9]
Pitchfork	7.4/10[10]
PopMatters	[11]
The Quietus	Positive[12]

Upon release, The Deal was mostly well received and garnered largely positive reviews by fans and critics alike. Dean Brown of The Quietus said of the album: "it's as good as you'd hope for from these guys." Commenting on the sound of the album, he noted that it featured characteristics of the "sturm und drang" of industrial metal, the "rhythmic battery" of noise-rock frenzied by the "expressive, crushing bass” of bassist Brian Cook. Brown described the songwriting as “cantankerous in its refusal to give the listener immediate gratification" favoring a "non-linear, more organic exploration of tonality, pressure and release, and devastating density." Brown describes an atmospheric "sense of unease... akin to the effects of a good horror soundtrack" that permeates the album.[12] Brice Ezell of Pop Matters said the album "lands somewhere in between the music of Isis and Old Man Gloom" demonstrating "sludgy heaviness," "nonlinear song structure" and "no shortage of magnificent crescendos." He goes on to say that the "loose structure of the tracks" tend to serve as a "source of weakness," but ultimately defines the album as a "thrilling journey."[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Spectral Gold"	3:18
2.	"Thorn in the Lion's Paw"	8:54
3.	"Hollow King"	12:21
4.	"Blight's End Angel"	10:16
5.	"The Deal"	13:41
6.	"Radiance of Being"	5:15
Total length:		53:45

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
7.	"Radiance II"	6:56

Personnel

The Deal personnel adapted from CD liner notes.[1]

Sumac

• Brian Cook – bass
• Aaron Turner – guitar, vocals, design
• Nick Yacyshyn – drums

Additional musicians

• Faith Coloccia – piano on "Thorn in the Lion's Paw"

Production

• Kurt Ballou – mixing at God City
• Mell Dettmer – engineer at Studio Litho and Studio Soli
• Mika Jussila – mastering at Finnvox
• Aaron Turner – addition at recording at HOLC

Artwork

• Faith Coloccia – artwork, cover co-design, photography
• Aaron Tuner – design

References

1. The Deal (CD liner notes). Sumac. Profound Lore Records. 2015. PFL–147.CS1 maint: others (link)
2. wookubus (September 3, 2014). "Ex-Isis Singer Teams With Members Of Russian Circles & Baptists In New Band Sumac". The PRP. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
3. Turner, Aaron (September 3, 2014). "Sumac". Aaron Turner's Blog. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
4. "Sumac – The Deal". Profound Lore Records. November 21, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
5. "Sumac – Complete Work On Debut Album". Profound Lore Records. Profound Lore Records. December 4, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
6. Noisey Staff (December 18, 2014). "Aaron Turner's New Band, Sumac, is Heavier Than a Bag of Hammers; Listen to a New Track Here". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
7. Geist, Brandon (January 26, 2015). "Hear Dave Grohl's 'Favorite New Drummer' on Sumac's Raging 'Blight's End Angel'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
8. MetalSucks Staff (February 11, 2015). "Exclusive Full Album Stream: Sumac, The Deal". MetalSucks. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
9. Emperor Rhombus (February 5, 2015). "Sumac's The Deal: A Familiar Assault". MetalSucks. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
10. Dick, Jonathan (February 12, 2015). "Sumac The Deal Profound Lore; 2015". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
11. Ezell, Brice (February 20, 2015). "Sumac The Deal". PopMatters. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
12. Brown, Dean (February 5, 2015). "Sumac The Deal". The Quietus. Retrieved April 13, 2016.

External links

• The Deal on Bandcamp
• The Deal on Discogs