REVIEW: Snuffed on Sight – Smoke [2023]

Artist: Snuffed on Sight
Album: Smoke

There are a lot of ways this review could start: punning off of smoke to segue into the 420-friendly outfit that is Snuffed on Sight, or maybe something fun, lighthearted and whimsical—better yet, maybe something dark and moody.
But none of that really captures what Snuffed on Sight are, or what they do. It doesn’t really describe what they’re about on Smoke—and that’s violence for the sake of violence. It’s self-aware, over-the-top, no holds barred full-on devastation that leaves the listener totally trampled in under 15 minutes. The band take immense breakdown and slams and blend them with a catchy, quick and driving candor infused with samples, humor and a tongue-in-cheek awareness that keeps the listener swinging and smiling at the same time. Even more than that, it’s a comprehensive and authentic sampler of California brutality, and a picture-perfect snapshot of the current state of slamming death metal mixed with brazen heavy-hardcore—and guess what? It’s really fucking violent.
Smoke is fifteen minutes of pure fury; guitars that sound like downturned jet engines take turns burning the listener alive while machine-gun percussion lacerates the remains. The intro alone demonstrates that, but lead single “Time 2 Dip” is an 85-second long demonstration in raunchy, ruthless oppression, with everything from airhorns to rib-breaking bass drops to slam the listener into oblivion—but what shines are the blisteringly fast drums and earth-rumbling guitar. The same approach can be said to just about every song throughout Smoke, but certain cuts—“Slippin” and “Dummy” come to mind—exemplify it, with Snuffed on Sight boldly incorporating a not-so-subtle flair for hip-hop into the mix that takes their primal slamming antics to the next level. “Dummy” is an excellent example, with a colossal bounce and enormously catchy feel to the track underscoring what Snuffed on Sight have already demonstrated they do so well—the heaviness. Just the same as the band’s ability to write heavy tracks and play them excellently is worthy of high praise, the record’s production is as well—with The Swamp Sound touches throughout the release that bring even more beef and girth to the low end while still giving plenty of sonic variety throughout the album’s various tracks.
But Smoke doesn’t stop there.
Snuffed on Sight continue their devastating parade with a vocal approach that puts gutturals and squeals on display, and demonstrate them at among the best you’ll hear from any band past, current or future. “Dippin,” as well as “D.T.D.” and really every song sees the band let loose with a cavalcade of visceral, grimy low screams and piercing, hair-raising, straight-out-the-slaughterhouse squeals that beautifully complement the otherworldly instrumentation throughout the brief LP. “Repeat Offender” is another short-but-sweet cut with gruesome vocal brilliance abound, and sure, you probably won’t understand most of the lyrics, but the candor, flow and intensity needs no additional assistance with translation. In their relatively short time on the scene, Snuffed on Sight—and commiserate slamming gangster groove act PeelingFlesh—have made names for themselves with their blistering (but surprisingly smooth) vocal approach layered atop gritty slamming aggression—and Smoke sees it done about as well as one could possibly want.
After my first spin through Smoke I was of two minds. On one hand, clocking in at barely 15 minutes (with a brief interlude), it seemed a little…underwhelming for a full length offering. On the other hand, too much longer than 15 minutes might turn the listener’s head into a pulverized flesh crater—especially if they’re relative newcomers to anything slamming. Ultimately, while a couple more tracks might have rounded Smoke out and given it a little more impact, the listener’s thirst for barbaric, hyper-aggressive dummy death is satisfied by the time the record’s title track is complete. Composed to crush the listener down to dust and atoms and produced to shine (while still feeling…unclean), Smoke is a staple among the 2023 heavy releases, and Snuffed on Sight are a fantastic new installment to the extreme ends of the heavy music spectrum.
9.5/10
For Fans Of: CELL, Traumatomy, PeelingFlesh, Field Dressed
Connor Welsh